Jinxian Chan Temple

Jinxian Chan Temple

Jinxian Chan Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

A Millennium-Old Ancient Temple —— Jinxian Temple was first built during the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, boasting a history of over a thousand years. Despite being destroyed and rebuilt several times, its original charm remains intact. The temple’s mountain gate faces Baiyang Lake directly, where a pair of stone lions gaze silently at the lake water that has remained crystal clear through the centuries. When the setting sun casts its blood-red glow and all around falls into silence, the deep tones of the temple bell echo slowly through the air, carrying the patina of a thousand years, filling every corner. Weary birds fly across the lake surface, through the sound of the bell, and return to their nests.

According to the "Cixi County Annals" from the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty: the temple was originally constructed during the Datong era (535–545) of the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties, making it over 1,400 years old. It was initially named Jingjin Nunnery. During the Qianyuan era (758–759) of the Tang Dynasty, Master Fulin Duzhi resided here and renamed it Fulin. In the second year of the Jianning era of the Song Dynasty (1065), as Baiyang Lake was once called "Jinxian Lake," the imperial court bestowed the name Jinxian Chan Temple, establishing it as a renowned monastery in eastern Zhejiang at the time. In the 38th (1699) and 59th (1720) years of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty, the temple underwent two major expansions; in the 15th year of the Daoguang reign (1835), it was destroyed by fire but was soon rebuilt; in the first year of the Tongzhi reign (1862), it was again ruined by war; and in the 12th year of the Tongzhi reign (1873), it was reconstructed once more.

In 1989, Yao Yunlong, a devotee from Cixi residing in Hong Kong, considering Jinxian Temple’s location within the scenic area of Baiyang Lake, generously funded the temple’s restoration. The project commenced in November of that year with approval from the Ningbo Municipal Government. Over the following decade, the Buddha Hall, Heavenly King Hall, Wanghu Tower, Baihu Lecture Hall, and side halls with guest rooms were restored, while new structures such as the Jade Buddha Pavilion and Ten Thousand Buddhas Tower were added. The temple now houses 172 various halls and rooms, covering an area of 42 mu (approximately 2.8 hectares). With its grand architecture and solemn Buddha statues, it has become a sizable Buddhist monastery in eastern Zhejiang.

Address: No. 8, Jinxian Temple Road, Guanhaiwei Town, Cixi City, Ningbo, Zhejiang Province

Type: Temple

Recommended Visiting Time: About 1 hour

Ticket Information:

Gate Price: 5.0 RMB