Longhua Temple, Buddhist temple in Xuhui District, China
Longhua Temple is a large Buddhist complex in Xuhui District with several main halls arranged along a central axis, including the Maitreya Hall and Mahavira Hall. The site features a seven-story octagonal pagoda and traditional Chinese gardens that, together with various religious structures, form a coherent architectural ensemble.
The temple was founded during the Three Kingdoms period to honor a ruler's mother, and underwent several reconstructions over the centuries. Most structures visible today date from the Qing Dynasty.
The temple serves as an active worship space where Buddhists gather for prayers and celebrations, particularly during Lunar New Year when crowds fill the courtyards. The architectural style and religious objects reflect how this place continues to hold spiritual meaning for visitors and practitioners today.
The temple is open daily for visitors to explore the halls, gardens, and grounds at their own pace. Visiting outside the Lunar New Year period offers a quieter experience compared to the crowded celebrations.
Since 1991, the temple hosts a Bell Striking ceremony on December 31st that has become recognized as a national event by China's tourism authorities. This annual occasion draws visitors who gather to mark the new year with this traditional ritual.
Location: Xuhui District
Architectural style: Chinese architecture
GPS coordinates: 31.17695,121.44656
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:02
Shanghai brings together the past and the present in a single city. The Bund lines up colonial facades from the 1920s and 1930s directly across from the Lujiazui skyline, where glass towers rise on the opposite bank of the river. In the narrow lanes of the French Concession, old plane trees shade historic townhouses while just a few blocks away the new city center climbs with office towers and shopping malls. This mix defines the whole cityscape. The city preserves its religious and cultural roots in active temples such as Longhua and Jing'an, which stand in the middle of modern neighborhoods. The Ming Dynasty Yu Garden remains surrounded by traditional teahouses even as contemporary shops have grown up around it. Water towns like Zhujiajiao and Qibao sit on the outskirts and show how life looked centuries ago in the region. Museums such as the Shanghai Museum and the China Art Museum collect art and history from different eras. For families there are the Ocean Aquarium, Shanghai Disneyland, and the Science and Technology Museum. Places like Tianzifang, M50 Creative Park, and Duolun Road reveal contemporary cultural life in converted old buildings. Each neighborhood has its own character, from the wide boulevards at People's Square to the small workshops along old industrial structures like 1933 Old Millfun.
Shanghai blends centuries of history into a cityscape that shifts from one district to the next. Along the Huangpu River, the Bund lines up colonial buildings from the early 20th century, while across the water in Pudong, glass and steel towers rise hundreds of feet into the air. In older neighborhoods, Buddhist temples sit near traditional gardens where pavilions and ponds follow designs from the Ming and Qing dynasties. The French Concession spreads out with tree-lined streets and low brick houses that now hold cafes and small shops. Converted factories and warehouses have become art spaces and museums. Yu Garden winds through courtyards and corridors built in the 1500s, while water towns like Zhujiajiao and Qibao keep their canals and stone bridges from centuries past. Nanjing Road connects old and new with its mix of department stores and neon signs. In Xintiandi and Tianzifang, narrow lanes of restored shikumen houses now hold restaurants and boutiques. Places like the Power Station of Art, Rockbund Art Museum, and 50 Moganshan Road turn industrial spaces into galleries. The view from Shanghai Tower or the World Financial Center stretches across the entire city, showing the scale of this metropolis.
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