Our answer
Shanghai’s old monastery and pagoda 龙华寺
A working Chan monastery in Xuhui with a 40.4 m brick pagoda, a New Year’s Eve bell and a spring temple fair
The short answer
Longhua Temple (龙华寺, Lónghuá Sì) is a Chan Buddhist monastery at 2853 Longhua Road, Xuhui district, Shanghai, founded by tradition in 242. Visit for its five halls in the plan of a Song-dynasty monastery, the 40.4 m Longhua Pagoda, the New Year’s Eve bell ringing and the spring temple fair.
| In Chinese | 龙华寺 (Lónghuá Sì), ‘Dragon Flower Temple’, after the tree under which Maitreya will become a Buddha |
|---|---|
| Where | 2853 Longhua Road (龙华路), Xuhui district, Shanghai |
| Founded | 242 according to tradition, under Sun Quan of the Wu kingdom; rebuilt in 977 |
| Known for | The 40.4 m Longhua Pagoda, the New Year’s Eve bell and the Longhua Temple Fair |
| Size | More than 20,000 m², with a main axis 194 m long |
| Getting there | Longhua station, Shanghai Metro lines 11 and 12 |
History and legend
Longhua’s founding is told as legend. Tradition dates the temple to 242, in the Three Kingdoms period, and one story says Sun Quan, ruler of the Wu kingdom, obtained relics of the Buddha and ordered 13 pagodas built to hold them, Longhua Pagoda being one. Another says he built the temple for his mother. Local tradition explains the name with a dragon that once appeared on the site; the temple’s name also recalls the Longhua, or dragon-flower, tree, under which, a Buddhist sutra says, the future Buddha Maitreya will attain Buddhahood. Song and Yuan local histories give a different account, crediting the king of Wuyue with building the temple.
Firmer history begins in 977, when the temple and its pagoda were rebuilt under the Wuyue kingdom. In 1064, under the Song, it was renamed Kongxiang Temple (空相寺); the old name Longhua returned under the Ming Wanli emperor (1573–1620). Most of the present buildings were rebuilt in the late Qing, under the Tongzhi and Guangxu emperors, and the complex was restored in 1954. In the Qing an abbot of the 32nd generation of the Linji school of Chan led the temple.[1][2][3]
The five halls, from the gate inwards
Longhua keeps the layout of a Song-dynasty Chan monastery, with five main halls on a north–south axis. It is a clear example of the plan described in our guide to Chinese Buddhist temples.[1][2]
- 1
Maitreya Hall (弥勒殿)
Statues of Maitreya, the Buddha of the future, and of Budai, the cloth-bag monk better known as the Laughing Buddha.
- 2
Hall of Heavenly Kings (天王殿)
The Four Heavenly Kings, guardians of the four directions.
- 3
Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿)
The main hall: Shakyamuni with two disciples, 20 guardians of the Buddhist law, 16 arhats and a relief of Guanyin at the back. It also keeps a bell cast in 1586, in the Wanli era.
- 4
Three Sages Hall (三圣殿)
Amitabha Buddha with the bodhisattvas Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin, here in male form) and Mahasthamaprapta.
- 5
Abbot’s Hall (方丈室)
Used for lectures and formal meetings. Off the axis stand the bell and drum towers, a shrine to Ksitigarbha (Dizang), a sutra library and statues of the 500 arhats.
Longhua Pagoda
Longhua Pagoda (龙华塔, Lónghuá Tǎ) is the tallest structure in the complex: 40.4 m, seven storeys, octagonal, each storey smaller than the one below. Its brick base and body date from 977; the core survives from the Song, while its wooden exterior has been renovated many times. It is the best known of Shanghai’s historic pagodas.
The pagoda is fragile and closed to visitors, so you see it from the outside. On New Year’s Eve it has been lit up for a light show. For how pagodas developed in China, see our guide to Chinese pagodas.[1][2][7]
Festivals and customs
Two dates bring the biggest crowds to Longhua.[1][4][5][6][7]
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| New Year’s Eve (31 December) | The great bell in the bell tower, about 2 m tall and weighing about 5 tonnes, is struck 108 times to see out the old year and welcome the new. Shanghai’s portal called it a 36-year tradition at the end of 2024. Visitors also come to pray, watch lion dances and intangible cultural heritage shows, and eat New Year noodles. |
| Spring: the Longhua Temple Fair | Held every year since the Ming dynasty on the third day of the third lunar month, when, local legend says, dragons visit the temple to grant wishes. It coincides with the peach blossom, for which Longhua’s gardens were long famous. In 2025 the fair ran at Longhua Square until 13 April. |
How to visit Longhua Temple
- Metro: take line 11 or 12 to Longhua station, in Xuhui district; the temple is at 2853 Longhua Road, a short walk away.
- Tickets: the temple charges admission, which has included incense; we have not found an official current price, so check at the gate.
- Walk the axis: go through the five halls on the axis from the gate, then the bell tower and the side halls, and finish at the pagoda.
- Time your trip: come in spring for the temple fair and peach blossom, or on New Year’s Eve for the bell, both draw crowds.
- More temples: Jing’an Temple and the Jade Buddha Temple are in central Shanghai; see our list of temples in Shanghai.
Questions readers ask
How old is Longhua Temple?
By tradition it was founded in 242, in the Three Kingdoms period. Recorded history is firmer from 977, when the temple and its pagoda were rebuilt; most of today’s halls date from the late Qing dynasty.
Is Longhua Temple the oldest temple in Shanghai?
It is often described as the oldest and largest temple in Shanghai, with a history of more than 1,700 years by tradition.
How do I get to Longhua Temple?
Take Shanghai Metro line 11 or 12 to Longhua station in Xuhui district. The temple is at 2853 Longhua Road.
Can you climb Longhua Pagoda?
No. The 40.4 m pagoda, whose brick body dates from 977, is fragile and closed to the public; you see it from outside.
What does Longhua mean?
Longhua (龙华) means ‘dragon flower’. It is the name of the tree under which, a Buddhist sutra says, the future Buddha Maitreya will attain Buddhahood, and local legend also tells of a dragon appearing on the site.
What happens at Longhua Temple on New Year’s Eve?
On 31 December the temple’s great bell is struck 108 times to see out the old year. Visitors come to pray for blessings, and there have been lion dances and a light show on the pagoda.
When is the Longhua Temple Fair?
Traditionally on the third day of the third lunar month, in spring, when the peach trees blossom. In 2025 it was held at Longhua Square until 13 April.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Longhua Temple · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia (Chinese), 龙华寺 (上海) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- China Daily (government services site), Longhua Temple (5 December 2017) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Global Times, Shanghai temple rings bell to welcome 2024 (1 January 2024) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Shanghai International Service Portal, Various events held to welcome 2025 in Shanghai (31 December 2024) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Shanghai International Service Portal, Longhua Temple Fair returns to Shanghai (11 April 2025) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Shanghai International Service Portal (from Xinmin), At Longhua Temple, 2024 begins with ancient rituals and new visitors (2 January 2024) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
- Wikipedia, Longhua station (Shanghai Metro) · accessed 1 Nov 2026
Update log. 1 November 2026 — reviewed. Next review due 1 February 2027. Suggest a correction