Shànghǎi Sights

Jade Buddha Temple

#32 of 574 things to do in Shànghǎi

#26 of 712 religious, spiritual sights in Asia

3 reviews | Write a review

Good for: ancient history, Photo Opportunities

  • Address
    • cnr Anyuan Rd & Jiangning Rd
  • Transport
    • 19 from Broadway Mansions along Tiantong Rd
    • Changshou Rd
  • Phone
    • 021 6266 3668
  • Price
    • admission Y20
  • Hours
    • 08:30-16:30

Correct these details

Lonely Planet review for Jade Buddha Temple

Built between 1911 and 1918 in Song dynasty style, this active place of worship is one of Shànghǎi’s few Buddhist temples. The Hall of Heavenly Kings ( 天王殿; Tiānwáng Diàn) contains its namesake kings and a splendid statue of the laughing Buddha back-to-back with a fabulous effigy of Weituo, the guardian of Buddhism.

Festooned with red lanterns, the first courtyard is paved with slabs etched with lotus flowers and leads to the twin-eaved Great Treasure Hall ( 大雄宝殿; Dàxióng Bǎodiàn), where worshippers pray to the past, present and future Buddhas, which are seated on splendidly carved thrones. Also lodged within the hall are the temple’s drum and bell that would normally be hung within separate towers, and a copper-coloured statue of Guanyin stands at the rear. Follow the left-hand corridor beyond the main hall and you will pass a chamber where Buddhist services are held. At the very rear of the temple is the recently built 10,000 Buddhas Hall, where Buddhist services and lectures are held.

But the absolute centrepiece of the temple is its 1.9m-high pale-green jade Buddha, seated upstairs in his own hall. It is said that Hui Gen (Wei Ken, a Pǔtuóshān monk) travelled to Myanmar (Burma) via Tibet, lugged five jade Buddhas back to China and then went off in search of alms to build a temple for them. Two of the Buddhas ended up in Shànghǎi. The beautiful seated effigy of Sakyamuni, clearly Southeast Asian in style, gazes out from a cabinet. Visitors are not able to approach the statue, but can admire it from a distance. An additional charge of Y10 is levied to see the statue (photographs aren’t allowed).

A similarly elegant jade reclining Buddha can be found downstairs, opposite a much larger copy in stone. A black-faced statue of Guanyin is ensconced within another hall, and a large vegetarian restaurant (6266 5596; 999 Jiangning Rd; 江宁路 999 号; dishes from Y18) is attached to the temple.

In February, during the Lunar New Year, the temple is very busy, as some 20,000 Chinese Buddhists throng to pray for prosperity. The surrounding shops and the many hawkers can supply everything you need to generate good luck, including bundles of spirit money to burn in incense pots. This is one of Shànghǎi’s top sights; expect crowds.

 

Traveller reviews for Jade Buddha Temple (3)

  • Avatar
    To write a review sign in, register or   Connect_light_large_long
    Recommend
     
    Add your experience “ ”
    Say more…
  • Avatar

    Standard temple.

    shanghaied2011 does not recommend this,

    of
    Previous image Next image Enlarge Close

    It mostly sort of struck me as a standard temple but I may have seen a few too many at that point. A friend from China who went with me explained the symbolism of jade and it was really interesting. I never found the stone terribly pretty though. I liked the other statues in the temple better than the jade one. If you are going to Shanghai I think the modern stuff is more worth seeing than this temple since it is such a new city without much history. The most striking thing about the temple for me were the beggars out front with some rather disturbing ailments. It was pretty sad.

    report
  • Avatar

    Temple among the city

    natekeegan recommends this,

    This temple is rather large and filled with many different types of halls. It's quite nice, but rather crowded, especially on the weekends. This is definitely a photographer's dream especially with all the faithful burning incense in the main courtyard. This is a place filled with old architecture and old style rooms and statues. Though the actual jade Buddha is a little underwhelming, the courtyard will be your best place for photos. It's a court yard filled with the smell of burning incense, held by the bowing and praying faithful, as a hazy smoke fills the area.

    Good for: ancient history, Photo Opportunities

    report
  • Avatar

    Potlatch

    markbroadhead recommends this,

    The statue itself is a little underwhelming. "Which one is it?" Then there is the monetisation of devotion. Devotees spend a small fortune on offerings. Maybe I'm a cynic, but people seemed to be trying to outdo each other in the amount of money they could burn.
    If you are foreigner you will be led upstairs to the temple shop, which is full of wonderful but expensive jade sculptures. There you can definitely outdo your budget.

    report