Xingjiao Temple, Buddhist temple in Chang'an District, Xi'an, China.
Xingjiao Temple is a Buddhist monastery in the Chang'an District, southeast of Xi'an, built around three brick pagodas on a hillside plateau. The central pagoda holds the remains of the monk Xuanzang, while the two flanking pagodas are dedicated to his closest disciples.
The temple was founded in 669 CE, shortly after the death of Xuanzang, to house his remains on the orders of the Tang emperor. It was later destroyed by fire during the Qing period and then rebuilt in the early 20th century.
The temple is a place of active worship, and monks still live and practice there today. Visitors can observe daily rituals and see offerings placed at the foot of the central pagoda.
The temple is located on the Shaoling plateau, roughly 20 kilometers southeast of central Xi'an, so a taxi or private vehicle is the most practical way to get there. Weekday visits tend to be calmer, as the site draws more people on public holidays.
Xuanzang's journey to India inspired the classic Chinese novel 'Journey to the West', in which he appears as the pilgrim monk Tang Sanzang. The novel is one of the most read works in Chinese literature, yet few visitors to the temple make that connection on the spot.
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