Atlas of China
Zhihua Temple 智化寺Zhìhuà Sì
National heritage site · Beijing, Beijing
- Time needed
- 1 hour
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Beijing
- Region
- Beijing
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- National heritage site
About Zhihua Temple
Founded in 1443 by the powerful eunuch Wang Zhen, Zhihua Temple keeps one of the most complete groups of Ming-dynasty wooden buildings in central Beijing, roofed in unusual black glazed tiles. Its halls hold Ming Buddhist statues and murals and a two-storey hall whose upper floor is the Ten Thousand Buddha Pavilion, and the temple, home to the Beijing Cultural Exchange Museum since 1992, is known for Jing music, a centuries-old Buddhist ritual music still performed by its musicians.
How to get to Zhihua Temple
In the hutongs south-west of Chaoyangmen, about 15 minutes' walk from Chaoyangmen station on Metro Lines 2 and 6. Closed on Mondays.
Nearby
- National Museum of China 中国国家博物馆 under 10 km
Ancient bronzes, jades and porcelain in a vast museum beside Tian'anmen Square - Forbidden City 故宫 under 10 km
Six centuries of imperial power behind vermilion walls in the heart of Beijing - Tiananmen Square 天安门广场 under 10 km
A vast ceremonial square below Tian'anmen gate, where the national flag is raised at dawn - Lama Temple 雍和宫 under 10 km
Incense-filled courtyards and an 18-metre sandalwood Buddha in a working monastery - Temple of Confucius and Imperial Academy 孔庙和国子监 under 10 km
Courtyards of stone steles naming imperial exam graduates, beside the old Imperial Academy
Also within 20 km: Ritan Park (Altar of the Sun) 日坛 (under 10 km), Beijing Ancient Observatory 古观象台 (under 10 km), Beijing Dongyue Temple 东岳庙 (under 10 km), Beijing railway station 北京站 (under 10 km), St. Joseph's Church, Beijing 王府井天主堂 (under 10 km), Ming City Wall Relics Park 明城墙遗址公园 (under 10 km).
On the map
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