Daci Temple
大慈寺
A thousand-year-old temple hidden among the Taikoo Li shopping district. Xuanzang received his ordination here during the Tang dynasty, offering a quiet corner in the city bustle.
Daci Temple was first built during the Wei and Jin dynasties and flourished in the Tang and Song dynasties. The eminent Tang monk Xuanzang received full ordination here and gave lectures, and in the Song dynasty its murals were unrivalled in scale. The existing buildings were rebuilt in the Qing dynasty and include the mountain gate, the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Guanyin Hall, the Mahavira Hall and the Sutra Library. They contrast sharply with the modern commercial buildings of Taikoo Li around them, making the temple a popular spot for photos of “past and present in one frame.” Admission is free, and there is a tea garden where you can drink gaiwan tea. It lies in the Chunxi Road–Taikoo Li commercial area, about 5 minutes' walk from Chunxi Road station on Metro Lines 2 and 3. It can be combined with shopping and a night cruise on the Jinjiang River.
Opening hours
About 08:00–17:30
Nearby sights
- Chunxi Road / Taikoo Li
- Jinjiang River Night Cruise (Dongmen Wharf)
- Mengzhuiwan Riverside
- Jinjiang Theatre (Sichuan Opera)
- Shuijingfang Museum
- Anshun Bridge & Jiuyanqiao
- Tianfu Panda Tower (Sichuan TV Tower)
- Tianfu Square