White Horse Temple 白马寺Báimǎ Sì

Why go to White Horse Temple

By tradition White Horse Temple is the first Buddhist temple in China, founded in 68 AD near the Han capital. The Ming and Qing halls on the main axis hold Yuan-dynasty dry-lacquer Buddhas and arhats brought from the Forbidden City in 1972, and the 13-storey Qiyun Pagoda of 1175 stands just east. Thai, Indian and Burmese-style halls added since 1992 make it a rare place to compare Buddhist traditions in one visit.

The story

According to tradition, Emperor Ming of the Han dreamt of a golden figure and sent envoys west, who returned with two Indian monks and scriptures carried on a white horse. The temple was built outside the walls and named for the horse.

What to see at White Horse Temple

• Gate and white horse statues 山门与石马: Two stone horses stand before the main gate with two lions, a nod to the temple's origin legend.
• Mahavira Hall 大雄宝殿: The main hall holds Yuan-dynasty dry-lacquer Buddhas and arhats, moved from the Forbidden City in 1972.
• Qiyun Pagoda 齐云塔: A 13-storey brick pagoda rebuilt in 1175 under the Jin dynasty, in its own courtyard about 250 m east of the main temple.
• Thai, Burmese and Indian halls 泰国佛殿 缅甸佛殿 印度佛殿: Modern halls built in each country's style: a Thai hall of 1992, a Burmese-style hall, and an Indian-style hall (a Sanchi stupa-inspired shrine opened in 2010 under an India–China agreement).

How to visit White Horse Temple

Walk the Chinese main courtyards first, from the Heavenly Kings Hall through the Great Buddha and Mahavira halls to the rear pavilion, then cross to the Qiyun Pagoda courtyard and finish in the international halls. The temple is flat and compact. Two hours covers the main halls; three hours adds the pagoda and foreign halls at a relaxed pace.

How to get to White Horse Temple

The temple is about 12–15 km east of central Luoyang; city bus No. 56 from Luoyang railway station takes about 40 minutes, or a taxi is quicker. It is on the opposite side of the city from Longmen Grottoes.

Where to stay

Stay in Luoyang city, with the Old Town for night markets and food, and the new district near Longmen for the grottoes; the temple is an easy half-day trip from either.

What to eat

• Luoyang water banquet 洛阳水席: A banquet of 24 dishes, mostly soupy, served one after another like flowing water; a Luoyang tradition.
• Peony yancai 牡丹燕菜: A signature water-banquet dish of shredded radish bound with starch, steamed and served in a savoury broth, said to resemble bird's-nest soup.
• Donkey-meat soup 驴肉汤: One of Luoyang's 'three famous soups', a rich broth with sliced donkey meat, eaten in the city's soup shops.

Tips for visiting White Horse Temple

• Which of the foreign-style halls are open can vary, so ask at the gate; the Indian-style hall in particular has been reported closed for works in the past.
• The grounds are compact enough to walk in two to three hours; go on a weekday morning to avoid tour groups.
• Pair it with Longmen Grottoes by taking a morning here and an afternoon on the south side of the city.

Nearby

• Longmen Grottoes 龙门石窟 20 km
  Some 100,000 Buddhas carved into riverside cliffs, watched over by a serene giant
• Shaolin Temple 少林寺 40 km
  The cradle of Chan Buddhism and kung fu, at the foot of Mount Song
• Huangcheng Xiangfu 皇城相府 90 km
  A walled hillside estate of courtyards, towers and gardens built by a family of officials
• Henan Museum 河南博物院 100 km
  Zhengzhou's treasure house of Central Plains bronzes, jades and Neolithic finds

Also within 30 km: Old City of Luoyang (Han–Wei Luoyang) 汉魏洛阳故城 (under 10 km), Erlitou Site Museum of the Xia Capital 二里头夏都遗址博物馆 (under 10 km), Huiluo and Hanjia Granaries (Grand Canal) 回洛仓·含嘉仓遗址 (under 10 km), Luze Guild Hall (Luoyang Folk Customs Museum) 潞泽会馆 (10 km), Luoyi Ancient Town 洛邑古城 (10 km), Henan Prefecture Confucian Temple 河南府文庙 (10 km).

On the map

Open White Horse Temple on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.

Learn more

• Wikipedia
• Wikipedia (Chinese)