Finding this serene and mysterious world of ancient rock carvings, dark incense-filled halls and myriad Buddha statues practically in the middle of a huge city comes as a very pleasant surprise. The surrounding bucolic countryside at the foot of the thickly wooded mountains is no less enchanting.
Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺, Língyǐn Sì) is thought to have been founded in 328 CE. Its fame peaked by the end of the first millennia when it emerged as the main center of pilgrimage in the surrounding Wuling mountains, known as a stronghold of Chan Buddhism. It was destroyed and marauded over a dozen times, so what you see now is the result of various reconstructions during the last three centuries of Chinese imperial history.
As you enter the scenic area you will first pass by the Rock Flown from Afar, a craggy barren peak that contrasts sharply with the gently sloped mountains around it. A legend explains that it was flown overnight from India as a proof of the truthfulness of Buddhist teachings. Here you’ll find dozens of images of the Buddha and other deities carved on the rock face and inside several grottos. A small pagoda contains the ashes of the temple’s legendary founder, an Indian monk known in China as Huili.
From here, the road leads to the temple, which consists of five halls beautifully positioned on a terraced mountain slope. The Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings is astonishing, with its four vast guardians and an ornate cabinet housing Milefo (the Future Buddha). The Great Hall contains a magnificent 20m-high statue of Siddhartha Gautama (the Buddha), sculpted in 1956 from 24 blocks of camphor wood and based on a Tang dynasty original.
An additional attraction outside Lingyin Temple scenic area is Beigao Mountain (北高峰, Běigāofēng) with a small temple at the top. It's reached by Beigao Cableway. From the summit there are sweeping views across the lake and city.
The Lingyin area is quite large and it will take at least half a day to cover all the attractions, all of which are free to access. There are a few restaurants in the rest area outside the main entrance.