Lingyin Temple & Feilai Feng

灵隐寺

A Chan Buddhist temple founded in the Eastern Jin dynasty and the legendary home of the monk Jigong. The Five Dynasties to Yuan rock carvings at Feilai Peak, set in a deep valley, are equally impressive.

Lingyin Temple was founded in the first year of the Xianhe era of the Eastern Jin dynasty (326 CE) by Indian monk Huili. It is one of China's ten famous ancient temples, and it is where the legendary monk Jigong is said to have taken his vows. At its height it had nine halls and eighteen pavilions. To enter, you must first buy a Feilai Peak scenic area ticket for RMB 45, then buy a RMB 30 incense voucher at the temple gate. The voucher includes three sticks of incense. Bringing your own incense or candles inside is not permitted. Feilai Peak is a limestone hill. Along the Cold Spring Stream are 345 rock carvings dating from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan. The most famous is the Song-dynasty Budai Maitreya, the laughing Buddha. Other caves include Qinglin Cave, Yuru Cave, and Yixiantian (“One Line of Sky”). It is best to view the carvings along the stream before entering the temple. Along the central axis of the temple are the Hall of Heavenly Kings, which bears the plaque “Yunlin Chan Temple” written by Emperor Kangxi; the Mahavira Hall, which houses a 24.8-metre seated Shakyamuni statue, one of China's largest seated wooden statues; the Medicine Buddha Hall; the Sutra Library; and the Huayan Hall. To the east are the Jigong Hall and the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats. Vegetarian meals and the “eighteen seeds” bracelets sold at the temple's Dharma Objects counter (a popular internet sensation) are common experiences. Arrive when the temple opens at 8 am to avoid tour groups and pilgrims. Your visit will take about 2 to 3 hours. Above the temple, you can visit Yongfu Temple and Tanguang Temple, which is quiet and has views over West Lake. Below, on Tianzhu Road, is Shangtianzhu Faxi Temple, which attracts many fortune-seekers. It is also a 30-minute walk to Longjing Village. Getting there: take bus 7, 324, or stop at “Lingyin,” or take Metro Line 3 to Longxiangqiao and transfer to a bus. During holidays, Lingyin Road is congested, so driving is not recommended. Dress appropriately, and photography is not allowed inside the halls.

Lingyin Temple & Feilai Feng

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