---
title: "Chinese Buddhist temples: how they are laid out, and the famous ones"
url: https://popularinchina.com/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples
section: "Culture"
type: answer
updated: 2026-11-01
next_review: 2027-02-01
status: checked
author: "The Popular in China desk"
fact_checker: "Alex Liu"
publisher: Popular in China (https://popularinchina.com)
license: Quote with attribution and a link to https://popularinchina.com/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples
---

# Chinese Buddhist temples: how they are laid out, and the famous ones

_China has at least 192,000 temples that honour Buddhist deities, from village shrines to great monasteries. Most of the large ones follow the same plan, so once you know it you can read almost any of them. Here is the layout, how to tell a Buddhist temple from a Taoist one, how to behave inside, and the temples worth the trip._

**Verdict: Everywhere, and built to a plan** (寺院) — Gate, Hall of Heavenly Kings, then the main Mahavira Hall, lined up on one axis

## Short answer

A Chinese Buddhist temple (寺, sì) is usually laid out along a central axis: a mountain gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings with the Laughing Buddha and four guardian kings, then the Mahavira Hall, the main hall, with the Buddha. Famous ones include the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, Lingyin in Hangzhou and Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple.

## At a glance

- **In Chinese:** 寺 (sì) or 寺院 (sìyuàn); a Taoist temple is 观 (guàn)
- **How many:** At least 192,000 temples dedicated at least partly to Buddhist deities (Pew estimate); about 28,500 registered Han Buddhist temples
- **Basic plan:** Mountain gate → Hall of Heavenly Kings → Mahavira Hall, on a central axis
- **Main hall:** 大雄宝殿 Dàxióng Bǎodiàn, the Mahavira Hall, usually with the Buddha Shakyamuni
- **Oldest by tradition:** White Horse Temple, Luoyang, founded 68 CE according to tradition
- **Who visits:** People born in the 1990s and 2000s made almost half of temple ticket bookings on Trip.com (Ctrip) after February 2023

## The layout of a Chinese Buddhist temple

China has at least 192,000 temples dedicated at least partly to Buddhist deities, by a Pew Research Center estimate. From the Song dynasty onwards, Chinese temples set their main halls one behind another on a central axis, with side halls flanking each one. This is the order a visitor usually walks through.

1. **Mountain gate (山门, shānmén)** — The entrance gate, named, by one explanation, for the mountains where temples were traditionally built. Where it is a gate building, two fierce guardians stand inside: one with mouth open, one with mouth closed.
2. **Bell and drum towers (钟楼, 鼓楼)** — A pair, often flanking the first hall; at Lingyin the bell tower stands to the east and the drum tower to the west. The bell and drum call the monks together and mark the hours, and “morning bell, evening drum” has become a byword for Buddhist life.
3. **Hall of Heavenly Kings (天王殿, Tiānwáng Diàn)** — The first hall. Facing you is Maitreya in the form of the big-bellied [Laughing Buddha](/culture/buddhism-in-china/laughing-buddha); the [Four Heavenly Kings](/culture/buddhism-in-china/buddhist-gods), armoured guardians of the four directions, line the sides; and behind Maitreya stands Weituo (Skanda), a guardian general.
4. **Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿, Dàxióng Bǎodiàn)** — The ‘Precious Hall of the Great Hero’, the main hall of most Chinese temples. It usually enshrines Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, often flanked by his disciples Mahakashyapa and Ananda. In many temples Weituo stands facing this statue.
5. **Further halls** — Larger temples add more behind or beside the main hall. Lingyin, for example, has a Hall of the Medicine Buddha, a Dharma hall and sutra library, a Hall of the Five Hundred Arhats, a dining hall and the abbot’s quarters.

Sources: [20][1][2][3][4][5][6]

## Buddhist or Taoist temple? How to tell

Chinese temples can look alike from outside, with the same curved roofs and incense burners. The name on the gate and the figures inside give it away. [1][7][8]

|  | Buddhist temple | Taoist temple |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Name ends in | 寺 sì (e.g. 灵隐寺, Lingyin Si) or 院 yuàn; a small temple or nunnery may be 庵 ān | 观 guàn or 道观 dàoguàn |
| Main figures | Buddhas, bodhisattvas such as Guanyin, arhats; the Laughing Buddha and four guardian kings in the first hall | Taoist deities such as the Three Pure Ones, and immortals |
| Clergy | Buddhist monks and nuns | Taoist priests (道士, dàoshì) |

## Famous temples in China

Six of the best-known Chinese Buddhist temples, from the oldest by tradition to the most visited in a big city. [9][10][11][12][14][15][16][17][21]

| Temple | Where | Why visit |
| --- | --- | --- |
| [White Horse Temple](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/white-horse-temple) (白马寺, Báimǎ Sì) | Luoyang, Henan | China’s first Buddhist temple by tradition, founded in 68 CE after Emperor Ming’s dream of a golden man; stone horses at the gate recall the white horses that carried the first scriptures. Its complex covers about 13 hectares. |
| [Lingyin Temple](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/lingyin-temple) (灵隐寺, Língyǐn Sì) | Hangzhou, Zhejiang | Founded in 328 CE by the Indian monk Huili. Its Mahavira Hall is 33.6 m high and holds a 24.8 m Buddha carved from camphor wood; the Buddhist rock carvings of Feilai Feng (Peak Flown From Afar) are next door. Free to enter since 1 December 2025. |
| [Jade Buddha Temple](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/jade-buddha-temple) (玉佛禅寺, Yùfó Chán Sì) | Shanghai | Founded in 1882 to house jade Buddhas brought by sea from Myanmar; the seated jade Buddha is 1.95 m tall. A working temple in the middle of the city, near Jiangning Road metro station. |
| Famen Temple (法门寺, Fǎmén Sì) | Fufeng County, Shaanxi, about 120 km west of Xi’an | Home of a relic believed to be a finger bone of the Buddha. The crypt under its pagoda, opened in April 1987, yielded a hoard of precious objects. |
| [Shaolin Temple](/culture/buddhism-in-china/shaolin-temple) (少林寺, Shàolín Sì) | Mount Song, Dengfeng, Henan | Founded in 495 CE; famous for Chan Buddhism and kung fu, and part of a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2010. |
| Hanshan Temple (寒山寺, Hánshān Sì) | Suzhou, Jiangsu | Founded, by tradition, in 502–519. Its bell is the one in Zhang Ji’s Tang poem ‘A Night Mooring by Maple Bridge’, and hearing it ring in the new year on the night of 31 December draws visitors from China, Japan and Korea. |

## Why young Chinese are visiting temples

Temples are no longer mainly for the old. On Trip.com (Ctrip), ticket orders for temple sites rose 310% year on year from February 2023, and people born in the 1990s and 2000s made up nearly half of the bookings. Many go to wish for a job, exam results or love, or just for a quiet day out; our guide to [religion in China](/culture/religion-in-china) has more on the trend, including the temple bracelets many leave with.

Some temples have made it easier to come. Hangzhou’s Lingyin and Feilai Feng scenic area, which includes Lingyin Temple, has been free to enter since 1 December 2025, with visits booked by real-name reservation.

Sources: [18][12]

> **Note: Visiting a Chinese temple: what to do**
>
> There is no single etiquette; it depends on why people come. Devout visitors put their palms together, bow and kneel to pray. Most people simply light a stick of incense, close their eyes with palms together in front of the Buddha and make a wish. Other customs vary by temple: follow the signs and what other visitors do, including on photos inside the halls.
>
> Incense rules vary from temple to temple. Some give visitors a few sticks free at the gate, as Hangzhou temples such as Lingyin and Jingci have done, partly to discourage people from bringing their own; others have no place to burn incense at all, and Shanghai’s Jade Buddha Temple asks visitors not to bring inflammable materials in. Follow the signs and use only the temple’s own incense burners. Buy tickets only at the temple’s own ticket office.

Sources: [13][19]

## Temple guides by city, and single temples

- **By city**: **[Temples in Beijing](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/beijing)** · **[Temples in Shanghai](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/shanghai)** · **[Temples in Hangzhou](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/hangzhou)** · **[Temples in Xi’an](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/xian)** · **[Temples in Chengdu](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/chengdu)** · **[Temples in Suzhou](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/suzhou)**
- **Single temples**: [Foguang Temple, Shanxi](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/foguang-temple) · [The Hanging Monastery](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/hanging-monastery) · [Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/jade-buddha-temple) · [Jing’an Temple, Shanghai](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/jingan-temple) · [Kaiyuan Temple, Quanzhou](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/kaiyuan-temple) · [Lingyin Temple, Hangzhou](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/lingyin-temple) · [Longhua Temple, Shanghai](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/longhua-temple) · [Nanputuo Temple, Xiamen](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/nanputuo-temple) · [The Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple, Dali](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/three-pagodas) · [Wenshu Monastery](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/wenshu-monastery) · [White Horse Temple, Luoyang](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/white-horse-temple) · [Yonghe Temple (the Lama Temple), Beijing](/culture/buddhism-in-china/temples/yonghe-temple)

## Questions

**What is a Chinese temple called?**

A Buddhist temple or monastery is 寺 (sì) or 寺院 (sìyuàn), so Lingyin Temple is Lingyin Si. A Taoist temple is 观 (guàn), and 庙 (miào) is the general word for a temple, often one to folk gods or historical figures.

**What is inside a Chinese Buddhist temple?**

Usually a mountain gate, bell and drum towers, the Hall of Heavenly Kings with the Laughing Buddha, four guardian kings and Weituo, and then the main Mahavira Hall with the Buddha Shakyamuni. Larger temples add halls for Guanyin or the arhats, a sutra library and monks’ quarters.

**What is the first Buddhist temple in China?**

By tradition, the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, Henan, founded in 68 CE under Emperor Ming of the Han dynasty. Many scholars treat the founding story as legend, but the temple is still known as the cradle of Chinese Buddhism.

**How can you tell a Buddhist temple from a Taoist temple in China?**

Look at the name and the figures. Buddhist temples usually end in 寺 (sì) and have a Hall of Heavenly Kings with the Laughing Buddha, then halls for Buddhas and bodhisattvas. Taoist temples end in 观 (guàn) and honour Taoist deities such as the Three Pure Ones.

**What are the most famous temples in China?**

Among Buddhist temples: the White Horse Temple in Luoyang, Lingyin Temple in Hangzhou, the Jade Buddha Temple in Shanghai, Famen Temple near Xi’an, Shaolin Temple in Henan and Hanshan Temple in Suzhou. For mountains and grottoes, see our guide to [sacred sites](/culture/buddhism-in-china/sacred-sites).

**Is Lingyin Temple free?**

Yes. Since 1 December 2025 the whole Lingyin and Feilai Feng scenic area in Hangzhou, including Lingyin Temple, has been free to enter, with visits booked by real-name reservation.

**Why is it called the Jade Buddha Temple?**

It was founded in Shanghai in 1882 to house jade Buddha statues brought by sea from Myanmar. The seated jade Buddha is 1.95 metres tall; there is also a smaller reclining jade Buddha.

**Can tourists visit temples in China?**

Yes. Most temples are open to visitors, and some big ones are free: Hangzhou’s Lingyin Temple has been free since 1 December 2025, with real-name booking. Many visitors light incense and make a wish with palms together; follow the temple’s signs on photos and other customs.

## Sources

1. [Wikipedia, Mahavira Hall](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mahavira_Hall) — accessed 2026-11-01
2. [Lingyin Temple (official site), Hall of Heavenly Kings](https://en.lingyinsi.org/list_82.html) — accessed 2026-11-01
3. [Lingyin Temple (official site), Bell and Drum Tower](https://en.lingyinsi.org/list_269.html) — accessed 2026-11-01
4. [Wikipedia, Shanmen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shanmen) — accessed 2026-11-01
5. [Wikipedia, Skanda (Buddhism)](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skanda_(Buddhism)) — accessed 2026-11-01
6. [Wikipedia, Four Heavenly Kings](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hall_of_the_Heavenly_Kings) — accessed 2026-11-01
7. [Wikipedia, Chinese temple architecture](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_temple_architecture) — accessed 2026-11-01
8. [Wikipedia, Taoism](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taoism) — accessed 2026-11-01
9. [Wikipedia, White Horse Temple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Horse_Temple) — accessed 2026-11-01
10. [Lingyin Temple (official site), Brief History](https://en.lingyinsi.org/history/) — accessed 2026-11-01
11. [Lingyin Temple (official site), Grand Hall of Great Sage](https://en.lingyinsi.org/list_143.html) — accessed 2026-11-01
12. [Xinhua, Hangzhou’s Lingyin Temple opens free of charge (1 December 2025, in Chinese)](https://www.news.cn/politics/20251201/eef08f0b80204403b3d5ea778e90bc5c/c.html) — accessed 2026-11-01
13. [Hangzhou News, Hangzhou temples give three free sticks of incense (28 November 2014, in Chinese)](https://hznews.hangzhou.com.cn/chengshi/content/2014-11/28/content_5544529.htm) — accessed 2026-11-01
14. [Wikipedia, Jade Buddha Temple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jade_Buddha_Temple) — accessed 2026-11-01
15. [Wikipedia, Famen Temple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famen_Temple) — accessed 2026-11-01
16. [Wikipedia, Shaolin Monastery](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaolin_Monastery) — accessed 2026-11-01
17. [Wikipedia, Hanshan Temple](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hanshan_Temple) — accessed 2026-11-01
18. [The Paper, young people and temple tourism, Ctrip data (31 July 2024, in Chinese)](https://m.thepaper.cn/newsDetail_forward_28167574) — accessed 2026-11-01
19. [Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai (official site), Introduction](https://www.yufotemple.com/en/view/847) — accessed 2026-11-01
20. [Pew Research Center, Measuring Religion in China: Buddhism (30 August 2023)](https://www.pewresearch.org/religion/2023/08/30/buddhism/) — accessed 2026-11-01
21. [China Daily, Hanshan Temple lights up to welcome the new year (30 December 2024)](https://www.chinaservicesinfo.com/s/202412/30/WS67723cc6498eec7e1f72bf14/hanshan-temple-lights-up-to-welcome-the-new-year.html) — accessed 2026-11-01

## Related

- https://popularinchina.com/culture/buddhism-in-china
- https://popularinchina.com/culture/buddhism-in-china/pagodas
- https://popularinchina.com/culture/buddhism-in-china/buddhist-gods
- https://popularinchina.com/culture/religion-in-china

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