How to Visit Wanshou Temple in Beijing
Wanshou Temple (万寿寺） in Chinese means "Longevity Temple" or "Wanshousi" (Wanshou Temple). Wanshou Temple is one of the most important imperial temples in Beijing. It was first constructed between 881 and 884 in Tang Dynasty ( 618 -907). Its name was changed for the present Wanshou Temple in 1577 during the reign of Wanli Emperor ((1563 – 1620) in Ming Dynasty
Wanshou Temple was also favored by Kangxi Emperor(1654-1722), Qianlong Emperor (1711 –1799) and Guangxu Emperor (1871 – 1908) in Qing Dynasty. Wanshou Temple went through several repairs and revamps through Qing Dynasty. Empress Dowager Cixi (1835-1908) often used the temple as a stopover between Summer Palace and Forbidden City.
Now Wanshou Temple houses Beijing Art Museum, (北京艺术博物馆). The museum has a permanent collection of over 1 70,000 things – porcelains, earthenwares, enamels, carved lacquer ware, ivory carving, wood carving and etc.
Plan your Beijing tour? After you have visited some must see attractions in Beijing like Forbidden City, Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven and the Great Wall, you may consider choosing Wanshou Temple, which will offer you some glimpses into Beijing' religion, arts and architecture in Ming and Qing dynasties.
On May 25, 2006, Wanshou Temple as listed as China's key protection cultural relics in the name of China's ancient architecture.
How to get there?
Wanshou Temple is closed on Monnday. Wanshou Temple is located in the northwest of Beijing, not far from Summer Place. Its official address is North Road, Xishanhuan, Haidian District and leave the present world. You may used take bus 300, 323 or 374 and get off at Wanshou Temple Stop.
Wanshou Temple is closed on Monnday. Wanshou Temple is located in the northwest of Beijing, not far from Summer Place. Its official address is North Road, Xishanhuan, Haidian District and leave the present world. You may used take bus 300, 323 or 374 and get off at Wanshou Temple Stop.
Tel: 6841 3380
Entrance fee: CNY20
Entrance fee: CNY20
This is the Temple Gate. Above the gate is a picture depicting one hundred bats flying between the blue sky and the cloud, which implies that people coming here will have good luck.
The Temple Gate
Outside the Temple Gate of Wanshou Temple is the famous river in Beijing – Changhe (Long River). The 9km Changhe River, also knownas Royal River or Gaoliang River in Ming Dynasty, is the only river with some connection with the imperial family in Qing Dynasty. Beijing boat tour on Change River is an interesting outside activity in Beijing.
Beijing boat tour
Entering the Temple Gate, you will see the Hall of Deva Kings. It used to be the statues of the four heavenly kings on both sides of the hall.
the Hall of Deva Kings
After the Hall of the Deva Kings, is the main hall, the Mahavira Hall (Baxiong BaoDian), worshipping the founder of Buddhism.
The Mahavira Hall
The delicate temple architectures in Ming and Qing dynasties
The delicate temple architectures in Ming and Qing dynasties
North of the Main Hall is the Wanshou Tower. The Wanshou Tower is the place for preaching that monastery.
The Wanshou Tower
After the preaching hall is a pile of rockeries, a symbol of the three religious mountains
a pile of rockeries
Red wooden sticks indicates good luck, which are bound around trees inside Wanshou Temple.
Red wooden sticks indicates good luck
Beautiful Traditional Architecture
Beautiful Traditional Architecture
This yard gate was built in 1761 in Qing Dynasty. It is a half Chinese and half western. Its arched top is the French structure style.
Its arched top is the French structure style
Any questions, drop a line.
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