Huguo Temple in Beijing

Huguo Temple in Beijing

Huguo Temple is a cultural tourism attraction.

Huguo Temple is one of the eight major temples in Beijing, originally built during the Yuan Dynasty. It was initially the official residence of the Yuan Dynasty’s Chancellor Tokhtogha, and was first named Chongguo Temple (Northern Temple). In the fourth year of the Xuande era of the Ming Dynasty (1429), it was renamed Dalongshan Temple. In the eighth year of the Chenghua era (1472), it was bestowed the name Dalongshan Huguo Temple. In the 61st year of the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty (1722), Mongolian nobles renovated the temple to celebrate the birthday of the Shengzu (Emperor Kangxi), extensively restoring the site. It became known as Huguo Temple, also called the Western Temple, corresponding to the Eastern Temple, Longfu Temple.

Huguo Temple is a renowned Buddhist temple in Beijing, originally established during the Yuan Dynasty. The Ming Dynasty writers Liu Tong and Yu Yizheng, in their work "Scenic Spots of the Imperial Capital," wrote: “Dalongshan Huguo Temple, commonly called Chongguo Temple by locals, is the temple’s original name. Locals often mispronounce names, thus calling it by its original name. The temple was first built in the Yuandynasty, repaired during the Huangqing, Yuanshou, and Zhizheng eras. There were originally two Chongguo Temples in the Yuan Dynasty, northern and southern—this one being the northern. In the Xuande era of our dynasty [Ming], in the year Yiyu, it was named Longshan. In the Chenghua era, in the year Renchen, the name Huguo was added. In the Zhengde era, in the year Renshen, the Western Tibetan Dachan Fawang Zhanzhan BanDan and the Dajue Fawang Zhuo Xiao Zangbu, among others, were ordered to reside here, leading to major expansion of the temple. There were three central halls, eight side halls, and the final Jingming Hall. Beside the hall stood two pagodas, known as the Buddha Relic Pagodas.” The temple complex has five courtyards. There are many stone steles in the courtyards, among which the notable ones include Zhao Mengfu’s inscription on the “Huangqing First Year Chongjiao Master Yan Gong Stele” and the text and calligraphy by Wei Su on the “Zhizheng Twenty-Fourth Year Long’an Xuan Gong Precept Transmission Stele.” In addition to enshrining various Buddhas and Buddhist patriarchs, the temple also houses statues of the Yuan Dynasty Chancellor Toghtoh and his wife, as well as a memorial hall for Yao Guangxiao, who rendered outstanding service to the founding of the Ming Dynasty under Emperor Zhu Di. There is also a vineyard covering several acres, indicative of the temple’s once vast scale.

Huguo Temple

Huguo Temple Snacks mainly feature halal Beijing-style snacks. Over the years, the variety has evolved. Common offerings include various glutinous treats. There are assorted sweet dumplings with fine fillings, halal tangyuan (glutinous rice balls), aiwowo (glutinous rice balls with filling), doumian gao (bean flour cake), sesame rice cake, fruit-filled rice cake, and pea yellow. Fried items include honey twist, open-mouth smile (a fried pastry), thin and crisp (crackers), and fried dough rings. Liquid refreshments include douzhi (fermented mung bean drink), miancha (powdered tea), small red bean porridge, assorted offal soup, fresh soy milk, almond tofu, and lotus seed porridge. The shop produces nearly a hundred varieties including pea yellow, aiwowo, doumian gao, fruit-filled cakes, honey twists, honey san dao (candied pastries), fried dough rings, tang huoshao (sweetened baked wheat cake), bean paste pies, tang you su (sweet oil crisp), and savory sesame paste buns—covering a wide range of textures, flavors, and cooking styles such as steamed, fried, boiled, and baked.

Address: Huguo Temple Street, Xicheng District, Beijing

Type: Themed Area / Temple

Recommended Visit Duration: About 2 hours

Opening Hours:

Open all day

Transportation

Bus

Huguo Temple Stop: Bus routes 22, 88, 409, Night Route 4