Tianjin Dabeiyuan Temple

Tianjin Dabeiyuan Temple

Tianjin Dabeiyuan Temple is a Buddhist temple enshrining the Eight Directions Buddhas. It was first built during the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, and the temple once housed the relics of the Tang Dynasty monk and eminent monk Xuanzang. The original cypress wood-carved Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara statue in the temple was destroyed during the “Ten Years of Turmoil.” Today, the rear hall houses a modern-made golden Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara statue, standing 3.6 meters tall and 4 meters wide.

Dabeiyuan Temple stands out for two reasons: first, the Mahavira Hall located in the center of the temple once housed hundreds of bronze, wooden, and stone statues from the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Ming and Qing Dynasties—rare artistic masterpieces in the world. Second, the temple’s vegetarian cuisine has long been famous, transforming soy products into incredibly delicious dishes. Dabeiyuan Temple also houses the Memorial Hall of Master Hongyi, which mainly displays photos of the master after he became a monk, as well as calligraphy works. It is an important site for Buddhists in Tianjin to conduct religious activities.

Named after the Bodhisattva of Great Mercy, Avalokiteshvara, Dabeiyuan Temple is the largest and oldest surviving Buddhist monastery in Tianjin.

The temple was first built in the late Ming and early Qing Dynasties, flourished in the eighth year of the Kangxi reign, and at its peak covered an area of 56 mu. Later, due to historical upheavals, it experienced multiple periods of rise and decline, leaving only the smaller existing west courtyard. In 1942, the Tianjin Buddhist community invited the eminent monk Venerable Tai Xu, the 44th patriarch of the Tiantai School, to lead the renovation and expansion of the entire temple. Over five years, a complex of buildings including the Heavenly King Hall, Dabeiyuan Hall, Sakyamuni Treasure Hall, and east and west side halls were gradually constructed on the east side of the temple, along with over 8,000 square meters of gardens. Since its reconstruction, the temple has featured majestic architecture with blue bricks and green tiles, presenting a grand and spectacular sight.

After the liberation, the government repainted the Buddha halls and corridors, reinforced the surrounding walls, and built living quarters for monks. The renowned oracle bone script expert and first director of the Tianjin Cultural and Historical Museum, Mr. Wang Xiang, was invited to inscribe the seal script “Ancient Dabeiyuan Temple” on the mountain gate.

During the ten-year turmoil, the temple was looted and severely damaged. After the Cultural Revolution, with the implementation of the Party’s religious policies, restoration work began in 1980, and all the Buddha statues were remade. In 1983, it was approved by the State Council as a nationally key open temple, and it officially opened to the public in 1986.

Since the reform and opening-up, with the further implementation of the policy on freedom of religious belief, Dabeiyuan Temple has entered a new chapter in its history. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month or during Buddhist festivals, the temple is filled with incense and throngs of visitors, receiving over one million worshippers and tourists annually. However, due to its relatively small size, the temple could no longer meet the needs of its growing popularity. First, in 1995, two-story abbot residences and an office building for the Tianjin Buddhist Association were built on the east side of the temple’s central axis to improve office and accommodation conditions. By the end of 2000, the new Mahavira Hall project was completed. The hall houses three Myanmar jade Buddha statues, each standing five meters tall and weighing thirty tons—the largest jade Buddha statues in northern China. The east and west side statues depict the Twenty Devas, while the central reverse-facing statue is the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokiteshvara, flanked by the “Six Saints” forms of the Bodhisattva. This highlights Dabeiyuan Temple as a sacred site for Avalokiteshvara worship. The exterior walls of the main hall are painted red, surrounded by white marble railings. The red walls, yellow tiles, jade steps, and vermilion pillars create a magnificent and resplendent sight.

Suggested Duration

1–2 hours

Transportation

Take bus routes 849 or 954 and get off at Shiji Tianle Station, then walk about 140 meters to reach the temple.

Ticket

Ticket: 5 RMB, includes three sticks of incense. A notice indicates: one stick per hall (i.e., no need to buy incense separately).

Opening Hours

(Regular days): 9:00–16:30; (Dharma Assembly days): 6:00–17:00. Closed on Mondays (except on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month and public holidays when it remains open).

Location

No. 40, Middle Section of Tianwei Road, Hebei District, Tianjin

Address: No. 40, Tianwei Road, Hebei District

Tel: 26273910