Tianning Temple, Buddhist temple in Changzhou, China

Tianning Temple occupies a 27,000 m² site in Changzhou. Its main buildings include the Mahavira Hall, which houses three large Buddhas, the Heavenly King Hall with a plaque inscribed by Zhao Puchu, and the Arhat Hall with 500 gilded statues. Behind the temple rises the 13-storey Tianning Pagoda, an octagonal tower with a golden spire and a 30-tonne bronze bell.

The temple was founded between 627 and 655 CE during the Tang Dynasty under its original name, Guangfu Temple. In 1111, it received its current name and became an important center of Buddhist practice in the region.

The temple's name changed from Guangfu Temple to Tianning Temple in 1111. The Arhat Hall holds 500 gilded statues, each with a different expression, and the Mahavira Hall's walls carry 518 stone-carved arhat portraits. The temple is known for its large ordination assemblies, described in a local saying as unsurpassed in southeastern China.

The complex is accessible by multiple bus routes and Changzhou Metro lines 1 and 2 at Wenhuagong Station. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended, as exploring the different sections involves considerable walking across the grounds.

At 153.79 metres with 13 storeys, the Tianning Pagoda is the tallest pagoda in the world, exceeding the 84-metre Liaodi Pagoda of 1055. Its top storey holds a bronze bell weighing 30,000 kg, and the rooftops carry 68,038 kg of gold and brass.