Longhua Ancient Town, Shanghai

Longhua Ancient Town, Shanghai

Located about one kilometer from Xujiahui, Longhua Town derives its name from the Longhua Pagoda and Longhua Temple. As one of Shanghai’s ancient and renowned towns, it lies in the southern part of today’s Xuhui District. During the Tang Dynasty, it was just a small village; by the Yuan Dynasty, it had developed into a marketplace, and it wasn’t until the Ming Dynasty that it grew into a bustling town with a concentrated population and numerous shops, enjoying thriving commerce. The “Shenjiang Bamboo Branch Lyrics” from the Qianlong era of the Qing Dynasty wrote: “The fifteenth of March is fine, many visitors gather at the ancient Zen gate; the boat carries away the sound of bells as it sails through Longhua’s eighteen bends.” This shows how prosperous Longhua Town was at the time. From the late Ming to the early Qing Dynasty, an annual grand temple fair known as the “Longhua Temple Fair” was held every early spring and has been passed down through generations, enduring to this day.

The Longhua Temple in Longhua Town is one of the oldest and largest ancient temples in the Shanghai area, and the “Evening Bell of Longhua” was once listed as one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Shanghai. In the deepening twilight, the resonant bells echoing from the ancient temple are truly captivating. The Longhua Ancient Pagoda, which complements the temple, is the only pagoda located within Shanghai’s urban area. It is said to have been built during the Chiwu era of the Three Kingdoms’ Wu Kingdom, though the current structure is the original from the second year of the Taiping Xingguo era of the Northern Song Dynasty (977 AD). In the late spring of March, when the grass grows lush in the Jiangnan region, it is the season for the peach blossoms of Longhua. Half a century ago, this was the homeland of Shanghai’s honey peaches, where “ten miles of peach blossoms bloomed like waves of crimson, set off by the fresh green willows,” creating a picturesque scene of “willows encircling riverside villages and ten miles of peach blossoms.” Sadly, with the passage of time, most of these peach orchards no longer exist.

In Longhua Town, you can also witness the “Moon Worship” ceremony held in the ancient Longhua Temple. It is said that moon worship originated in the Tang Dynasty, flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and was a way for people to express their good wishes and emotions. The evening moon worship is conducted in front of the Mahavira Hall, featuring ingot-shaped candle stands lit with five giant candles, a red cloth-covered altar, and offerings including mooncakes, fruits, taro, and water chestnuts. An exquisite tower of incense is also arranged to form the “Moon Palace.” When the bright moon is high in the sky and three drumbeats sound, the moon worship begins. Monks and disciples, dressed in kasayas, hold up Buddhist banners and parasols, play Buddhist music, parade around the temple, and then gather at the worship site to chant in unison, creating a sacred atmosphere. After the chanting, the resident monk offers the first incense, and the climax is the singing of the “Moon Palace Praise,” which conveys messages of good fortune, peace, and prosperity for the nation. With this, the entire moon worship ceremony concludes.

Twin Lions Gate (Ancient Mountain Gate) — The ancient mountain gate was originally the entrance to Longhua Town. The existing gate pillars were built in the eleventh year of the Zhengde era of the Ming Dynasty (1516). The pillars originally bore a plaque inscribed with “Longhua” on the front and “Ancient Temple” on the back, but they were destroyed during the Japanese bombing in the War of Resistance. A pair of Ming Dynasty stone lions, each cradling a cub with the cub kicking a ball underfoot, are said to be among only two and a half such pairs remaining in the Jiangnan region. Although Longhua Ancient Town no longer exists, the Twin Lions Gate stands as a witness to the town’s transformation over time.

Transportation

Address of the ancient town: Hualong Town, Xuhui District, Shanghai

Transportation Guide: Buses 41, 44, 104, 718, 734, 809, and 933 all go directly to Longhua Tourist City; buses that pass by Longhua Tourist City include routes 56, 111, 326, 714, 720, 770, 847, 857, 932, the Hu-Xin Line, and Line 3 of the Shanghai Metro — get off at Longcao Road Station.