Tianjin Da Bei Chan Temple

　　Tianjin Da Bei Chan Temple is a Buddhist temple dedicated to the Eight Directions Buddha. It was first built during the Shunzhi reign of the Qing Dynasty, and the temple once enshrined the relics of Master Xuanzang, the Tang Dynasty monk. The temple originally had a sandalwood-carved Thousand-Armed Guanyin statue, which was destroyed during the “Ten Years of Turmoil.” Today, the rear hall houses a golden Thousand-Armed Guanyin statue, 3.6 meters tall and 4 meters wide, crafted in modern times.

　　The outstanding features of Da Bei Temple are two-fold: first, the Mahavira Hall located in the center of the temple once housed hundreds of bronze, wooden, and stone Buddhist statues from the Wei-Jin to the Ming-Qing dynasties, which are rare artistic masterpieces in the world; second, the vegetarian food at Da Bei Temple has long been renowned, transforming soy products into incredibly delicious dishes. The Da Bei Chan Temple also houses the Memorial Hall of Master Hongyi, featuring mostly photos of the master after he became a monk, as well as calligraphy works. This is an important site for Buddhists in Tianjin to conduct religious activities.

　　Da Bei Chan Temple is named after the Bodhisattva Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, and 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 fifty-six acres. Later, due to historical upheavals, it experienced multiple periods of rise and decline, leaving only the smaller existing western courtyard. In 1942, the Tianjin Buddhist community invited the eminent monk Master Tai Xu, the 44th patriarch of the Tiantai Sect, to lead the renovation and expansion of the entire temple. Over five years, buildings such as the Heavenly King Hall, Da Bei Hall, Sakyamuni Treasure Hall, and the east and west side halls were gradually constructed on the eastern side of the temple, along with over 8,000 square meters of gardens. Since its reconstruction, the temple has boasted majestic architecture with green-tiled walls, presenting a grand and spectacular sight.

　　After the liberation, the government repainted the temple halls and corridors, reinforced the surrounding walls, and built monks’ quarters for daily living. 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-style characters “Ancient Da Bei Chan Temple” on the mountain gate.

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

　　Since the reform and opening-up, with the further implementation of the religious freedom policy, Da Bei Chan Temple has entered a new chapter in its history. On the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month or Buddhist festivals, the temple fills with incense and crowds, receiving over a million worshippers and visitors annually. However, due to its limited scale, the temple could no longer meet growing demands. Firstly, in 1995, two-story abbot residences and an office building for the Tianjin Buddhist Association were built on the eastern side of the temple’s central axis to provide office and accommodation facilities. By the end of 2000, the new Mahavira Hall project was completed. The hall enshrines three Burmese jade Buddha statues, each standing five meters tall and weighing thirty tons, the largest of their kind in northern China. The east and west side statues depict the Twenty Devas, while the main reverse-facing statue is the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, flanked by the “Six Saints” forms of Guanyin, highlighting the temple’s role as a Guanyin sacred site. The exterior walls of the hall are painted red, and the base is surrounded by white marble railings. At a glance, the red walls, yellow tiles, jade steps, and painted pillars create a resplendent and magnificent sight.

　　Suggested Duration

　　1–2 hours

　　Transportation

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

　　Ticket

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

　　Opening Hours

　　(Regular days): 9:00–16:30, (Dharma service days): 6:00–17:00, closed on Mondays (except on the 1st and 15th of the lunar month; open as usual on holidays)

　　Location

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

　　Address: No. 40, Tianwei Road, Hebei District

　　Phone: 26273910