Fayuan Temple

Fayuan Temple

Fayuan Temple is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level.

Fayuan Temple, also known as Minzhong Temple, is located at the southern end of Jiaozi Hutong near Caishikou in Xicheng District, Beijing. It is the oldest surviving Buddhist temple in Beijing. Not only is it an ancient temple with a long history in the city, but it also houses the Buddhist Academy of China and the Chinese Buddhist Library and Museum of Cultural Relics, serving as an important venue for training young monks and researching Buddhist culture. In 1983, Fayuan Temple was designated by the State Council as a nationally key Buddhist temple in Han Chinese regions. In 2000, after the publication of the renowned Taiwanese writer Li Ao’s book *Fayuan Temple in Beijing*, which gained widespread popularity both in China and abroad, the temple rose to fame, attracting numerous Buddhist devotees and tourists seeking history and tranquility.

Fayuan Temple

Covering an area of 6,700 square meters, Fayuan Temple boasts a grand architectural scale and rigorous structure, arranged along a central axis in symmetrical layout. From south to north, it consists of the Mountain Gate, Bell and Drum Towers, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Minzhong Terrace, Jingye Hall, Boundless Hall, Great Compassion Altar, Scripture Depository, Dabianjue Hall, and east and west corridors—totaling seven courtyards across six compounds. The well-preserved complex features a rigorous and expansive layout, representing one of the oldest temple architectural ensembles in Beijing. Within the temple grounds, the highlight is the sea of lilacs that fill the courtyards. Every April, the fragrant purple blooms burst forth like mist in the warm spring air, complemented by towering ancient locust trees, fragrant orchids spouting from stone pots in the corners, and freely roaming released animals under the lilac trees—altogether creating a serene, almost otherworldly scene.

It currently serves as the site of the Buddhist Academy of China and the Chinese Buddhist Library and Museum of Cultural Relics. In 1983, it was designated by the State Council as a nationally key Buddhist temple in Han Chinese regions. On June 25, 2001, Fayuan Temple was approved by the State Council as part of the fifth group of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level, recognized as a Qing Dynasty historical building.

Further Reading:

· Second Batch of Municipal-Level Cultural Heritage Protection Units in Beijing

· Fifth Batch of Major Historical and Cultural Sites Protected at the National Level