Jing'an Temple Guide

Jing'an Temple is one of the most striking sights in Shanghai, because its golden roofs and red halls sit right in the middle of glass towers, shopping malls and a busy metro station. The contrast is the point. It is a working Buddhist temple with a long history, and it gives its name to the whole district around it.

A long history

The temple is traditionally said to have been founded in the third century, in a different place beside a river, and to have moved to its present site in the thirteenth century. Over the centuries it was rebuilt several times after fires and wars, and in the twentieth century it served as a factory for a period before being returned to religious use. A large rebuilding project reopened the complex in the early 2010s with new halls and a bright gold finish.

What to see

The main hall holds a large Buddha figure, and other halls hold smaller statues, bells and offerings. The gold-covered roofs and the carved wooden details are the highlights, and the courtyard is a calm place to watch worshippers light incense and make offerings. The new buildings are impressive but feel very fresh, so expect polish more than patina.

Visiting with respect

This is an active place of worship, so dress modestly, speak softly and follow the signs about where photography is allowed. Do not point your feet at statues, and do not touch offerings. If you want to take part, you can buy incense at the entrance, but you are not required to. Watching quietly is just as welcome.

Photographs

Photography is usually welcome in the courtyards but is often banned inside the halls, so look for signs and follow the staff. For the best picture of the roofs against the towers, step back to the plaza outside or look down from a nearby mall. Please do not photograph worshippers close up while they pray.

Morning visits and evening atmosphere

Go on a weekday morning for the calmest visit, when the incense smoke drifts in the sun and there are few tour groups. Festival days, and the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month, bring many more worshippers and a livelier mood. The temple is often most atmospheric just before closing, when the towers behind it begin to light up.

Tickets and practical details

There is an entry fee, which is modest by international standards, and opening hours are fixed. See the current times and prices before you go, because they change, and some days close early. Payment is usually by phone app, so carry some cash if you do not have one.

The district around it

Jing'an is a business and shopping district, and the area around the temple is full of malls, hotels and offices. West Nanjing Road runs past the door, and a short walk leads to quiet residential streets and the French Concession. If you want a longer temple day, combine this visit with the Jade Buddha Temple and Longhua Temple.

Reaching the entrance

Jing'an Temple station sits on lines 2, 7 and 14, and its exits open almost at the gate. It is one of the easiest temples in the city to reach, and the walk from the station to the entrance takes only a minute or two.

Time required

Plan on about an hour, or two hours if you want to sit, watch and take your time. A coffee in one of the nearby malls makes a fitting coda, and the view of the golden roofs from an upper floor is a classic photograph.

Alternative options

You do not need a guided tour for the temple, and you can skip the souvenir stalls outside, which charge visitor prices. If you only have time for one temple, consider the Jade Buddha Temple for a richer interior and a longer history of worship.