Top 13 Temples and Monasteries in China

Written by Veronica | Updated September 19,2025

Nowadays, there are still numerous ancient temples in China, which constitute the spiritual totems of Chinese civilization. They not only occupy an important position in religious beliefs, but also become important tourist attractions due to their long history, magnificent architecture, and rich cultural connotations. Here are 13 unique Chinese temples revealed, taking you on a journey to appreciate the beauty of the fusion of history and nature.

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• Buddhist Temples: Ancient Sanctuaries
• Tibetan Monasteries: Himalayan Wonders
• Taoist Temples: Harmony with Nature
• Iconic City Temples
• Historic Gems & Lesser-Known Treasures
• “Best of” Lists
• Essential Tips when visiting temples and monasteries in China
• Planning Your Temple Tour in China with China Xian Tour

Buddhist Temples: Ancient Sanctuaries

Shaolin Temple (Henan)

Shaolin Temple is the cradle of Chinese Zen Buddhism and Kung Fu, as well as a world cultural heritage site. Its architectural complex mainly includes the Changzhu Yard covering an area of about 57,600 square meters, the largest existing ancient Pagoda Forest in China, Chuzu Convent, Dharma Cave, etc., which are typical Han Dynasty temple styles.

In the 19th year of the Taihe reign of Northern Wei (495 AD), Emperor Xiaowen ordered the construction of Shaolin Temple at the northern foot of Shaoshi Mountain in Songshan to accommodate his revered Indian monk, Venerable Batuo. The founder of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, faced the wall and meditated for nine years here.

It is said that thirteen stick-monks rescued the Tang emperor Li Shimin, thus Shaolin was bestowed with the title of “the World’s Top Buddhist Temple”. Today, Shaolin Temple is not only renowned worldwide for its ancient Buddhist culture, but also for its superb and practical Shaolin martial arts.

• Address: Within the Songshan Shaolin Scenic Area, Dengfeng City, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province
• Ticket: CNY 80 per person
• Opening hours: 7:00-17:00
• Unique features and experiences: Chinese-style temple with pagoda forest, watch performances of Shaolin Kungfu

Good to know:

The martial arts demonstrations in Shaolin Temple is held daily at 8:30 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:30 AM, 11:30 AM, 2:00 PM, 3:00 PM, 4:00 PM. Each performance lasts 30 minutes.

The oldest temple in China is also in Henan Province, which is the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, built in 68 AD during the Eastern Han Dynasty.

Lingyin Temple (Hangzhou)

Lingyin Temple is a must-visit place for many people during their Hangzhou tours, and is one of the “Top 10 Ancient Buddhist Temples in China”. It is located west of West Lake in Hangzhou, covering an area of approximately 87,000 square meters. Legend has it that this is the place where Ji Gong became a monk, and wishing is very effective. Every day, a continuous stream of pilgrims come to worship Buddha and pray for blessings.

First built in the first year of Xianhe in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326 AD), Lingyin Temple has a history of nearly 1,700 years. When Indian monk Hui Li came to Hangzhou, he saw the beautiful mountains here and thought it was a “hidden place for immortals”, so he built a temple here and named it “Lingyin”. In 1689, Emperor Kangxi came on a southern tour and named it “Yunlin Zen Temple”.

At present, there are still many historical relics such as ancient Buddha statues, ritual vessels, sutras, stone pagodas, imperial steles, calligraphy and paintings preserved, which are precious Buddhist cultural heritage of the ancient China temple – Lingyin.

• Address: 1 Fayun Lane, Xihu District, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province
• Ticket: CNY 30 for Lingyin Temple entrance fee + CNY 45 for Feilai Peak Scenic Area. (Because Lingyin Temple is located within the Feilai Peak Scenic Area)
• Opening hours: 6:30-18:00
• Unique features and experiences: Built along the mountain with yellow walls and black tiles, taste vegetarian dishes and appreciate the inscriptions on the cliffs

Lama Temple (Beijing)

As the largest temple in Beijing and the highest-standard Tibetan Buddhist temple in the Han Chinese region, the Lama Temple (Yonghe Palace) is located in the northeast corner of Beijing city and was first built in the 33rd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1694). It was the “Hidden Dragon’s Blessed Land” for the two emperors Yongzheng and Qianlong in the Qing Dynasty, so the palace was built with yellow tiles and red walls, with the same specifications as the Forbidden City, and later converted into a royal temple.

The Lama Temple is mainly composed of three memorial archways and five main halls. From the east and west memorial archways of Dougong (斗拱) with flying eaves to the antique east and west mountain buildings, it covers an area of 66,400 square meters, with more than 1,000 palaces. The entire architecture is extremely magnificent and exquisite, featuring Han, Manchu, Mongolian, and Tibetan styles.

Currently, the Lama Temple of China is incense smoke prosperous, integrating the religious activity venue, museum, and tourist destination into one, attracting a large number of tourists and believers from all over the world.

• Address: 28 Yonghegong Street, Dongcheng District, Beijing
• Ticket: CNY 25 per person
• Opening hours: 09:00-17:00 from April to October; 9:00-16:30 from November to March
• Good to know: No photography is allowed inside the hall. Please remove hats and sunglasses while visiting the halls

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Tibetan Monasteries: Himalayan Wonders

Potala Palace (Lhasa)

The Potala Palace is located on the top of Lhasa’s Red Mountain at an altitude of 3700 meters, covering an area of 360,000 square meters. It is a world-renowned ancient Chinese temple, palace-style architectural complex and a world cultural heritage site.

Built by Tubo Srongtsen Gampo in 631 AD to marry Princess Wencheng, Potala Palace contained a thousand palaces that were later destroyed by lightning strikes and war. After reconstruction in the 17th century, it became the winter palace of the successive Dalai Lamas and the theocratic ruling center of Tibet. The main buildings of the Potala Palace consist of two parts: the White Palace and the Red Palace. The White Palace has been the administrative and living quarters of the successive Dalai Lamas, while the Red Palace is a place for religious activities and the site of the stupas of the successive Dalai Lamas. Potala Palace integrates the palace, castle, and temple into one, very magnificent, and houses Buddhist pagodas, statues, murals, Thangkas, and scriptures, which is a sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism.

• Address: No. 35 Middle Beijing Road, Chengguan District, Lhasa City, Xizang Autonomous Region
• Ticket: CNY 200 from May to October; CNY 100 in other months
• Opening hours: 9:00-17:00 Closing times may be adjusted based on visitor traffic.
• You can book tickets 10 days in advance online.
• Unique features and experiences: A cluster of red and white palace-like architectural complexes, overlook Lhasa city at the top and view night landscapes

Jokhang Temple (Lhasa)

Jokhang Temple (Jokhang meaning “Buddhist Temple” in Tibetan language), is located in the heart of Lhasa and is the final destination for Tibetan Buddhist pilgrims.

Founded in the 21st year of the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenguan era (647 AD), it was built by King Srongtsen Gampo to commemorate Princess Wencheng’s entry into Tibet. People often say, “First came the Jokhang Temple, then the city of Lhasa”. The 12-year-old life-sized Shakyamuni statue mainly enshrined in this temple was brought in by Princess Wencheng from Chang’an of the Tang Dynasty and holds the highest status in the Buddhist community. The reason why Lhasa is called a “holy land” is related to this Buddha statue.

Jokhang Temple is the most splendid building during the Tubo period, and also the earliest civil structure in Tibet. It combines the architectural styles of Tibet, Tang, Nepal, and India, becoming a timeless model of Tibetan religious architecture. As one of the most sacred China temples, Jokhang Temple is surrounded by incense all day long, with thousands of butter lamps shining brightly.

• Address: Barkhor Street, Chengguan District, Lhasa City, Xizang Autonomous Region
• Ticket: CNY 85 per person
• Opening hours: 9:00-18:30
• Good to know: For an early visit, it is recommended to join the queue before 8:30 AM. No photography is allowed inside the hall. Wednesdays are designated pilgrimage days for Tibetan Buddhist devotees, seeing the most pilgrims
• Unique features and experiences: Tibetan-style wooden structures, blending Tang and Tibetan architectural styles, watch the devotees prostrating, spin prayer wheels

Ta’er Monastery (Qinghai)

Founded in the 12th year of Hongwu in the Ming Dynasty (1379), Ta’er Monastery (or called Kumbum Monastery) is the birthplace of Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug Sect of Tibetan Buddhism. It enjoys great reputation in both China and Southeast Asia. The central government of all previous dynasties highly praised its religious status. Because there was a pagoda (塔) first, and then the temple, so it was named Ta’er Temple.

Not only is Ta’er Monastery a holy land of Lamaism in China, but it also is a higher education institution that bring ups a large number of Tibetan intellectuals. This Chinese temple covers an area of 450,000 square meters, with magnificent architecture and a unique style that combines Chinese and Tibetan elements. It is rich in treasures and has a strong religious atmosphere.

The lifelike and colorful butter sculpture, mural and patchwork thangka are known as the “Three Treasures of Kumbum Monastery”. The temple also houses many Buddhist scriptures and academic monographs on history, literature, philosophy, medicine, legislation, and other fields.

• Address: 56 Jinta Road, Huangzhong District, Xining City, Qinghai Province
• Ticket: CNY 70 from April to October; CNY 40 from November to March
• Opening hours: 07:30-18:30 in peak season; 08:00-17:30 in off season

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Taoist Temples: Harmony with Nature​​

Wudang Mountain Temples (Hubei)

Wudang Mountain is a famous Taoist mountain in China and the birthplace of Wudang martial arts, known as the “Number One Immortal Mountain in the World”.

Purple Cloud Palace (Zixiao Palace) is the oldest Taoist temple in Wudang Mountain and also the relatively well-preserved royal temple complex. It was first built in the Northern Song Dynasty and was commissioned by the royal court during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, and was awarded the title of “Purple Cloud Blessed Land”. The palace architecture is grand in scale, built against the mountains and surrounded by peaks on all sides; The layered architectural complex is magnificent yet elegant.

As the only royal temple in China that retains the original appearance of the Ming Dynasty, Purple Cloud Palace on Wudang Mountain has ancient halls and pavilions, as well as precious cultural relics and inscriptions. You can also pay respects to Master Zhang San-feng here. There are still Taoists practicing here, perfectly integrating the essence of Taoist martial arts and philosophy, attracting countless foreigners to travel to China, Wudang.

• Address: Wudang Mountain, Danjiangkou, Shiyan City, Hubei Province
• Ticket: CNY 259 for combo ticket of Wudang Mountain Scenic Area
• Opening hours: 07:30-17:00
• Cable car is available, costing 80 RMB for a single trip.

Qingyang Palace (Chengdu)

Qingyang Palace (aka Qingyang Taoist Temple) was first built in the Zhou Dynasty, and most of the existing buildings were rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the most famous Taoist temples in China and is known as the “No. 1 Taoist Temple in Western Sichuan”. It is said that the Green Emperor transformed into a sheep here, hence the name Qingyang. Lao Tzu preached at Qingyang Temple, later Emperor Xizong of Tang avoided the chaos of Huang Chao and changed it to a palace.

The main buildings in Qingyang Palace include Bagua Pavilion, Sanqing Hall, Doumu Hall, Tang Wang Hall, etc. The preserved cultural relics such as stone carvings of the Tao Te Ching and bronze sheep are of great research value. The Bagua Pavilion is exquisitely crafted, while the Sanqing Hall is solemn and grand. This temple is bustling with incense and has a strong Taoist atmosphere, making it a great place to calm the mind.

• Address: 9, West Section 2, First-Ring Road, Qingyang District, Chengdu City, Sichuan Province
• Ticket: CNY 10 per person
• Opening hours: 08:00-18:00

Related reading: Characteristics of Chinese Palaces and Top Palaces to Visit

Iconic City Temples

Jade Buddha Temple (Shanghai)

The Jade Buddha Temple was founded in 1882 during the reign of Emperor Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty, and is a well-known Chinese temple for Zen Buddhism. As one of the famous tourist attractions in Shanghai, it is known as a pure land in the bustling city.

The Jade Buddha Temple was built after the Jade Buddha. In 1882, when Master Huigen passed through Shanghai, he left behind one sitting Buddha and one reclining Buddha, which were then enshrined in a temple in Jiangwan Town, known as the Jade Buddha Temple. Its architecture follows the style of the temples in the Song Dynasty. The central axis is lined with the triple halls of the Heavenly King Hall, the Grand Hall and the Jade Buddha Tower. The sitting Jade Buddha statue is 1.95 meters high and is carved from a whole piece of Burmese jade, making a mudra of meditation. There are also key cultural relics such as the Qianlong edition of the Tripitaka and the Northern Wei bronze Buddha statue inside the Jade Buddha Temple.

• What is mainly prayed for here: Marriage
• Address: 170 Anyuan Road, Putuo District, Shanghai
• Ticket: CNY 20
• Opening hours: 08:00-16:30

Longhua Temple (Shanghai)

Longhua Temple is the oldest and largest ancient temple in China’s Shanghai area. The name Longhua comes from the allusion in Buddhist scriptures that Maitreya Bodhisattva became a Buddha under the Longhua tree. It is said that Longhua Temple was built by King of Wu – Sun Quan for his mother in 247 AD during the Three Kingdoms period, and has a history of more than 1700 years.

It covers an area of more than 20,000 square meters and has a building area of 5,219 square meters. Along the central axis, there are six halls, namely Maitreya Hall, Heavenly King Hall, the Grand Hall, Sansheng Hall, Abbot’s Room and Sutra Repository. Most of the buildings in Longhua Temple today were constructed during the reigns of Tongzhi and Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty. Longhua Evening Bell was one of the “Shanghai’s Eight Views” in the past. The Longhua Pagoda, built in the Northern Song Dynasty (977), is a seven-story octagonal wooden pagoda. Every year on the third day and the fifteenth day of the third lunar month, Longhua Temple holds a grand temple fair.

• What is mainly prayed for here: Career
• Address: 2853 Longhua Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
• Ticket: CNY 10
• Opening hours: 07:00-16:30

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Historic Gems & Lesser-Known Treasures

Foguang Temple (Shanxi)

Foguang Temple is located at the west foot of the Southern Terrace of Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province. Founded in the Northern Wei Dynasty (471-499) and rebuilt in 857 AD, it has a long history. Foguang Temple is surrounded by mountains on three sides, built according to its terrain, facing west, and has three courtyards. There are currently over 120 halls, buildings, pavilions, and other structures within the temple. Among them, the main hall in Foguang Temple, namely the East Hall, has seven rooms. It is a building of the Tang Dynasty, and is famous for its exquisite Dougong structure and mural techniques. The East Hall ranks third among the existing wooden structures in China and is referred to as the “Number One National Treasure” by architect Liang Sicheng.

The Tang Dynasty architecture, sculptures, murals, and inscriptions of Foguang Temple have extremely high historical and artistic values. The Buddhist relics in this Chinese temple are precious, hence it is known as the “Asian Buddha’s Light”.

• Address: Foguang Village, Doucun Town, Wutai County, Xinzhou City, Shanxi Province
• Ticket: CNY 15
• Opening hours: 08:30-17:00

Dazu Rock Carvings (Chongqing)

Dazu Rock Carvings is the general name of 141 cliff statues in Dazu District, Chongqing, and there are more than 50,000 statues now. Founded in the early Tang Dynasty (mid-7th century AD), it went through the late Tang and Five Dynasties, flourished in the Song Dynasty, and continued until the Ming and Qing Dynasties, eventually forming a large-scale and exquisite stone carving group, which can be regarded as a representative of late Chinese grotto art.

As the only world cultural heritage in Chongqing, Dazu Rock Carvings is different from the early Yungang Grottoes and the medium-term Longmen Grottoes. Influenced by Indian art, it mostly shows the characteristics of “Hu people and ancient Indians’ appearance” and the integration of Chinese and Indian cultures. Breakthroughs have been made in the selection of themes, artistic forms, modeling techniques, aesthetic taste, and other aspects, and the integration of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism has truly completed the Sinicization of grotto art.

• Address: Baoding Town, Dazu District, Chongqing
• Ticket: CNY140 for the combined ticket for Baoding Mountain and Beishan area.
• Opening hours: 9:00-18:00

Songzanlin Monastery (Yunnan)

Songzanlin Monastery is the largest Tibetan Buddhist temple in China’s Yunnan, and is the center of the Gelugpa Sect in the Sichuan-Yunnan region. It is known as the “Little Potala Palace”.

Founded in 1679, it took 2 years to complete and was named “Ganden Sumtseling” by the Fifth Dalai Lama personally. This temple has an elevation of 3,300 meters and is built along the mountain, resembling an ancient castle. It is surrounded by an oval-shaped city wall, and the two main halls of Dratsang and Jikang stand tall in the center. Songzanlin Temple is the culmination of Tibetan plastic arts, with exquisite architecture and numerous religious artifacts and precious cultural relics stored in the temple. It is also known as the “Tibetan Art Museum”.

• Address: 3 Niwang Road, Shangri-La, Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
• Ticket: CNY 115 (including the sightseeing bus)
• Opening hours: 8:00-18:00

“Best of” Lists

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Essential Tips when visiting temples and monasteries in China

• Religious places should be kept quiet, avoid talking, laughing and shouting loudly. Do not smoke, spit or litter, and do not eat meat during the tour.
• For people concern about “what should I wear to temples or monasteries”? Dressing appropriately is seen as a way to show respect for the religious setting. Tourists should wear clean and modest clothing. So clothes that can cover your shoulders and knees would be better. It is better not to wear revealing or casual clothing like shorts, short skirts, tank tops, or see-through clothes. If your destinations include colder regions or high-altitude monasteries, remember to bring thicker layers for keeping warm.
• Are photography and videos allowed? Usually, photography is allowed in outdoor areas. However, many temples and monasteries prohibit photos or videos inside main halls, as these are places where sacred statues and relics get enshrined. In short, do not take photos of the main halls and the statues. Always check for signage (which should be easily noted), or if you feel you can’t make sure, ask the staff before taking pictures. And, do not take photos of monks without permission.
• Do not touch, climb or hit the statues, cultural relics and religious instruments.
• Step over the threshold of the main halls, don’t step on them. And the main central gate is for monks, so visitors should enter from the side gates.
• Are shoes removed indoors? In most Chinese Buddhist and Taoist temples, people will enter normally with their shoes on unless there is a sign asking you to remove them. In Tibetan Buddhist monasteries, shoes are typically worn inside as well, but always be mindful of local customs—if others are removing their shoes, follow suit.
• Tourists can talk to the Buddhists, but be respectful and polite and avoid secular topics such as killing, marriage, and meat diets, etc.
• Wish to delve deep into the Buddhist culture, and wonder if you can participate in rituals? Visitors are often welcome to join certain public rituals, such as lighting incense, offering prayers, or taking a walk clockwise around sacred structures. However, follow the lead of local worshippers and don’t try to enter any restricted areas that are only opened to monks, nuns, or clergy.
• Maintain an open and inclusive attitude towards different beliefs.

Planning Your Temple Tour in China with China Xian Tour

To learn about the Chinese culture with a long history, temples are recommended tourist attractions. Welcome to join China Xian Tour on your journey through top Chinese temples, exploring these ancient and sacred sites, touching history, and purifying the soul! We can arrange a tour covering not only the temples, but also the famous nearby scenic areas, so that you can have a more abundant travel experience. Just contact the consultant right now, and she will tailor an itinerary according to your needs.