Information
Landmark: Jade Buddha TempleCity: Shanghai
Country: China
Continent: Asia
Jade Buddha Temple, Shanghai, China, Asia
Overview
In Shanghai’s Putuo District, the Jade Buddha Temple (玉佛寺, Yùfó Sì) stands as a celebrated Buddhist site, its quiet halls scented with burning incense.The place is known for its two stunning jade Buddha statues, each gleaming soft green in the light, and it stands as one of the city’s most treasured religious and cultural landmarks.The temple blends traditional Chinese Buddhist design with rich artistic heritage and deep spiritual meaning, drawing worshippers and curious travelers from across the globe to its red lantern–lit halls.The Jade Buddha Temple sits in Shanghai’s Putuo District, out on the city’s western side, where incense drifts through the air.You’ll find it at 170 Anyuan Road, just a short walk from the bustle around Jing’an Temple.You can get there easily by public transport, and the Shanghai Metro’s Jing’an Temple Station-just steps from the gates-is the closest stop.Back in 1882, during the Qing Dynasty, a Buddhist monk named Huigen built the Jade Buddha Temple after returning from Burma-now Myanmar-with two gleaming jade Buddha statues.The temple was first built to hold these statues, and before long, incense smoke curled through its halls as it grew into one of Shanghai’s main centers for Buddhist worship and learning.The original temple fell during the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976), but in 1980 it rose again, rebuilt in a traditional style with curved eaves and quiet courtyards that still hold its historical and cultural weight.The Jade Buddha Temple reflects traditional Chinese Buddhist design, with sunlit courtyards, quiet gardens, and a graceful chain of pavilions and halls.The temple’s layout follows a precise symmetry, each side mirroring the other like calm water, embodying the balanced ideals at the heart of Buddhism.At the heart of the temple stands the Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿), where serene Buddha statues rest in the soft glow of incense smoke.Inside the Jade Buddha Hall (玉佛殿), you’ll find the two most treasured jade statues, their smooth green surfaces catching the light.The temple includes a Buddhist library, quiet prayer halls, and a few airy pavilions where visitors can pause and reflect in the soft rustle of bamboo leaves.Jade Buddha Statues: The temple’s most celebrated treasures are two jade Buddhas, their smooth green surfaces catching the light.Carved from deep green Burmese jade, the statues gave the temple its name.The Sitting Buddha, the bigger of the two statues, stands about 1.9 meters tall and weighs more than a ton-heavy enough to make the stone floor echo under your steps.It shows Sakyamuni Buddha seated quietly, his face calm as still water.The statue gleams with jewels pressed into every curve, and it stands in the temple’s main hall where the air smells faintly of incense.The second statue shows a smaller reclining Buddha, capturing Sakyamuni in the quiet moment of his parinirvana-his death and final awakening.The statue stretches about 1.3 meters and stands alone in a quiet hall inside the temple, where the air smells faintly of incense.The Jade Buddha Temple holds deep spiritual meaning for Buddhists and stands as a proud cultural landmark in Shanghai, its incense-scented halls welcoming visitors from around the world.Devotees and tourists alike gather here to feel the calm of Buddhist life-the soft ring of a temple bell, the quiet sweep of a monk’s robe.Pilgrims gather at the temple to pray, light curling threads of incense, and join in the quiet rhythm of Buddhist rituals.The temple draws visitors eager to explore Buddhist culture and practice meditation, sometimes pausing to listen to the soft ring of a prayer bell.In Shanghai, the Jade Buddha Temple is a lively hub for Buddhist learning and spiritual practice, where the community gathers for teachings and the steady rhythm of daily chanting.Temple Grounds: The temple’s grounds feature a Chinese-style garden where quiet stone paths wind past still ponds and clusters of green, creating a calm space for meditation and reflection.Inside the temple complex, you’ll also find a Buddhist vegetarian restaurant serving simple, fragrant dishes that follow traditional dietary rules.In the temple’s gift shop, you’ll find incense curling its soft smoke, smooth prayer beads that warm in your hand, and tiny Buddha statues-items visitors often take home as keepsakes or for their spiritual practice.The Jade Buddha Temple comes alive with several key Buddhist festivals each year, from lantern-lit celebrations to quiet days of prayer.They include the Lunar New Year, Buddha’s Birthday, and the Bathing of Buddha Ceremony, each marked by heartfelt prayers, the sweet curl of incense smoke, and lively cultural performances.The temple hosts events like quiet evening meditation classes and thoughtful Buddhist lectures, all aimed at sharing the heart of Buddhist philosophy and spirituality.At the Jade Buddha Temple, you can wander through quiet courtyards, pause to admire the gleam of its jade statues, and, if you like, join in the soft murmur of a ritual.The temple feels peaceful, its quiet air thick with incense, standing in sharp contrast to the clatter and rush of modern Shanghai.Travelers flock here for its blend of Buddhist culture, rich Chinese history, and graceful traditional architecture, from curved temple roofs to quiet stone courtyards.The temple still holds daily prayers, yet it opens its doors to travelers from every corner of the globe-some arrive to study Buddhism, others to admire the carved wood and incense haze, and many simply to find a quiet moment of peace.In the heart of Shanghai, the Jade Buddha Temple blends quiet spiritual reverence with rich cultural history and the graceful curves of its golden-tiled rooftops.With its gleaming jade Buddha statues, quiet gardens where incense drifts on the air, and deep-rooted Buddhist traditions, it’s still a must-see for anyone drawn to Shanghai’s spiritual and cultural heart.Whether you’re after a quiet place to breathe, curious about Buddhism, or drawn to the intricate gold trim on the temple’s doors, the Jade Buddha Temple delivers an experience you won’t forget.
