Fayuan Temple

　　Fayuan Temple, also known as Minzhong Temple, is locatedat 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 is also home to the Buddhist Academy of China and the Chinese Buddhist Library and Museum of Cultural Relics, making it an important site for training young monks and studying 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 Taiwanese author Li Ao published his book *Fayuan Temple in Beijing*, which gained widespread popularity both domestically 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 a rigorous structure, laid out along a central axis. From south to north, it includes the Mountain Gate, Bell and Drum Towers, Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, Minzhong Platform, Jingye Hall, Wuliang Hall, Great Mercy Altar, Scripture Depository, Dabianjue Hall, and East and West Cloisters, totaling seven courtyards and six compounds. The layout is orderly, spacious, and majestic, representing a well-preserved ancient temple architectural complex in Beijing. Within the temple, the blooming lilacs throughout the courtyard are not to be missed. Every April, the purple lilacs bloom like a fragrant mist in the warm spring air, harmonizing with the towering pagoda trees, the fragrant orchids in stone pots by the walls, and the freely roaming released animals under the lilac trees, together creating a serene, idyllic scene reminiscent of a hidden paradise.

　　It currently serves as the location for 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, as a Qing Dynasty historical building, was approved by the State Council aspart of the fifth batch of Major National Historical and Cultural Sites.。

Fayuan Temple is aAAAA-rated attraction.