Some awesome Temples Of China

China boasts a 5,000-year history, and its temples may be the best representation of this vast and diverse past. China’s varied theological influences—Buddhist, Confucianist, Taoist, and often a blend of all three—as well as its unique architectural style are perfectly exhibited in these serene and holy places.

 

China’s temples are genuinely exceptional and unlike anything you’ll see anywhere else, ranging from historic imperial buildings to traditional Tibetan retreats. Even though there are temples in practically every city, it seems hard to rate them all, but we’ve tried our best to select a few of our favorites.

 

The Temple of Heaven, one of the most well-known sights in the capital, is an architectural wonder with a vibrant, centuries-long past. The Yongle Emperor, who also oversaw the construction of the Forbidden City, first established this temple in the early 15th century. The emperor used to make an annual visit to this location, where he would pray and make sacrifices to the gods in order to help assure a bountiful harvest.

The Temple of Heaven is actually a series of temple buildings scattered around an almost 300-hectare park. The numerous temples suffered significant damage during the Opium Wars in the late 19th century, but they have since been rebuilt to its former splendor. Visitors to Beijing should not miss this iconic location rich in cultural value, as the main temple’s distinctive spherical structure sets it apart from similar sites throughout China.

Hangzhou, which served as the Southern Song Dynasty’s capital from 1127 to 1279, is home to several historically significant buildings situated in a stunning natural setting. Numerous temples may be seen dotting the hills surrounding Hangzhou and its well-known West Lake; the most well-known being Lingyin Temple, also known as the Temple of the Soul’s Retreat.
 
Lingyin Temple was established in the fourth century and has undergone numerous reconstructions throughout the years. Currently, it stands as one of the biggest and most prosperous Buddhist temples in China. The neighboring Feilai Feng grottoes, a network of lush caves that contain breathtaking and exquisitely maintained Buddhist rock sculptures that date back over a thousand years, are the principal attraction of Lingyin Temple in addition to its outstanding architecture.
The temple’s name may be familiar to fans of martial arts because it is the origin of one of the most illustrious and ancient kung fu systems. Shaolin kung fu originated hundreds of years ago at this original Shaolin school of Buddhism temple, not far from the old city of Luoyang. Kung fu is still practiced at Shaolin Temple, which was founded by esteemed soldiers and martial artists as early as the sixth century. The temple is worth seeing for its history alone, in addition to its striking examples of traditional construction.
 
The UNESCO-certified Pagoda Forest, a collection of more than 200 stone and brick pagodas that double as tombs, is also located at Shaolin Temple. Shaolin Temple is made even more fascinating by the multitude of pagodas, some of which are over a millennium old. They are a sight to behold.

The region around the northern city of Datong, which was first settled during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), is rich in historical relics and landmarks, the most remarkable of which is one of the strangest temples in the entire world. The Hengshan Hanging Temple, also known as Xuankong Si, is perilously perched 75 meters above the earth on the edge of a sheer cliff. This architectural marvel was constructed 1,500 years ago and has weathered the test of time. Because of its seemingly perilous location, Time listed it as one of the world’s ten most precarious buildings.

But this temple is noteworthy for more reasons than just the Hanging Temple. It is also the only temple in the world where practitioners of the three most popular Chinese religions—Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism—combine to create an intriguing, uniquely Chinese cultural blend. Because of these various elements, the Hanging Temple is one of the most fascinating religious and historical locations in China and, by far, our favorite temple in the Middle Kingdom!
 
The island province of Hainan is home to a thriving culture, but its white sand beaches and turquoise waters that seem to have come straight out of the Caribbean draw the majority of tourists. Its spectacular Nanshan Temple, which features a bronze statue of Guan Yin Buddha that is 108 meters tall—larger than the Statue of Liberty—is one of the best examples of that.
 
Nanshan Temple, which was constructed in 1988 to honor Buddhism’s 2,000-year legacy in China, is a stunning representation of the country’s rich religious history. The heavenly sub-tropical backdrop of Hainan adds to the temple’s appeal, and since its construction, it has gained popularity as a tourist destination. The coastal Nanshan Temple, with its amazing, unique Buddha figure, is a sight to behold even though it is not the oldest temple by Chinese standards.
 

Jokhang Temple (in Lhasa, Tibet):

The two primary reasons people travel to Tibet are mainly to take in the breathtaking alpine landscape and the ethereal ambiance of the country’s sacred places. The center of Tibetan Buddhism, the Jokhang Temple in Lhasa, is regarded as the most revered and significant temple in the whole region. With hundreds of monks residing there, it is a haven for worshippers traveling from all across Tibet and the best site to experience a truly traditional Tibetan Buddhist practice.

Apart from its spiritual importance, Jokhang Temple has an interesting past that began in 652, when it was constructed to house Buddhist images that the then-king’s two wives brought as dowries. Travelers visiting Tibet should not miss the temple, which combines traditional Tibetan, Nepalese, and Indian design elements. It is also a highly architecturally interesting location.
 

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