Tianning Temple & Pagoda

天宁寺·天宁宝塔

Tianning Zen Temple, known as the “First Monastery of the Southeast,” and the 153.79-meter Tianning Pagoda, from which you can look out over all of Changzhou.

Tianning Temple sits on the eastern side of central Changzhou. It was first built during the Zhenguan and Yonghui eras of the Tang dynasty and has seen periods of rise and decline. In the Qing dynasty it ranked among the four great Zen monasteries alongside Jinshan Temple in Zhenjiang, Gaomin Temple in Yangzhou and Tiantong Temple in Ningbo, earning the title “First Monastery of the Southeast.” The surviving Great Buddha Hall is about 34 meters high, grand in scale, and its interior features five hundred luohan statues and finely carved wooden components. The Tianning Pagoda beside the temple was completed in 2007. It stands 153.79 meters tall with 13 octagonal stories, has a wood-style exterior over a steel frame, and is billed as “China's First Buddhist Pagoda.” Visitors can take an elevator to the top to overlook the city and Hongmei Park. Each floor houses Buddhist statues and displays on Buddhist culture, and a blessing bell hangs at the summit. East of the temple is Hongmei Park, named after the Hongmei Pavilion, which is also a pleasant place to stroll. Allow about 1.5–2 hours. Tickets for the temple and the pagoda are sold separately, with prices announced on site. Getting there: Take Metro Line 2 to a nearby station, or take a bus to Tianning Temple stop.

Tianning Temple & Pagoda

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