Fayuan Temple

Lonely Planet review

In a lane east of Niujie Mosque, this temple dates back to the 7th century and remains busy with monks and worshippers. Now the China Buddhism College, the temple was built to honour Tang soldiers who had fallen during combat against the northern tribes. From the entrance of Niujie Mosque, walk left 100m then turn left into the first hútòng . Follow the hútòng for about 10 minutes, and you'll arrive at Fayuan Temple.

The temple follows the typical Buddhist layout, with drum and bell towers and the usual succession of halls, but look out for its unusual copper-cast Buddha seated on a thousand-petal lotus flower in the Pilu Hall (the fourth hall). The Guanyin Hall towards the rear is a pleasant repository for several statues of the Goddess of Mercy.