Longquan Monastery, Buddhist temple in Haidian District, China

Longquan Monastery is a Buddhist temple in Beijing nestled at the base of Phoenix Mountain, combining traditional Chinese architecture with contemporary additions. The compound features multiple buildings, meditation spaces, halls, and courtyards arranged according to classical design principles.

The monastery was established during the Liao Dynasty and served as a spiritual center through the centuries before falling into decline. Its reopening in the early 2000s marked a major turning point in its development and renewed community activity.

The monastery's name comes from the spring beside it, and its modern reputation rests on its monks: many arrived from Tsinghua and Peking University, earning it the nickname "Peking and Tsinghua branch campus." Since 2005 it has run the Robot Monk Xian'er, a small chatbot figure that answers visitors' questions about Buddhism, and it publishes manga and animation produced by its own teams.

The monastery lies inside the Phoenix Ridge (Fenghuangling) nature park in Haidian District, so allow time for the park entrance and the walk to the gate. The compound runs west to east across three courtyards: the west yard holds the Liao-era bluestone base, the middle yard the single-arch Jinlong Bridge, the east yard the cliff-edge halls. Two cypresses over 600 years old stand before the gate.

The monastery actively explores connections between ancient spiritual teachings and modern technology through dedicated research centers. This reflects an unusual approach to how traditional religious institutions engage with contemporary innovation.