Contrasting Worlds at Jing'an Temple in Shanghai
It appears much younger than its true age-the original structure dates back about seventeen centuries. However, it has undergone reconstructions and remodeling to preserve its beauty in the heart of the city. Most of the recent remodeling has been done with Burmese teakwood.
What makes the temple most impressive is its surroundings in the thriving city. Jing'an is in the middle of a very prominent neighborhood--it is on the corner of Nanjing Lu and Huashan Lu, next to an immense shopping center and major subway station that shares the temple's name. Across the street are an underground shopping center and a park filled with restaurants. The entire area showcases the vast wealth and capitalist tendencies of Shanghai. This area is China's equivalent of New York's 5th Avenue.
The prized antiquities of this Buddhist temple are a Ming Dynasty copper bell that weighs approximately 3.5 tons and stone Buddhas from the Northern and Southern States period.
With throngs of tourists and locals hustling through the area, there is little tranquility inside the temple. Visitors are welcome to snap photos and watch as locals light incense and pray. The sights of modern China-imposing commercial complexes-surround the walls. Visitors can see the traditions of Buddhism while peering at the modernity of Shanghai that overlooks Jing'an Si.
It was a nice day when I visited the temple on my second day in the city. The sun was shinning on my tour through the chilly streets in early February. It may have been cold walking through, but it was well worth the time away from the high-end shops that lined the streets, selling everything I couldn't afford.
The temple is easy to find and conveniently located next to the efficient Shanghai subway station. Jing'an Si is open daily from 7:30 am until 5 pm. Wandering through the grounds does not take much time. There are plenty of establishments around for a meal or snack before or after a glance through the temple. Admission is 10RMB, but may change.
Published by Matthew Lubin
Writer/editor and academic writing professor. Lived in southern China from 2005 to 2009. My work has appeared in Shenzhen Daily, Asia's Best Hotels & Resorts, The Aroostook Review, American Drivel Review, an... View profile
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- Jing'an Si is about 1700 years old.
- It is one of the two most important temples in Shanghai.
- It is next to a luxury shopping center.
2 Comments
Post a CommentBack in the mid-90's, I lived in Shanghai, and they would charge foreigners 9 yuan to get in the door. I would pay only 2 yuan (local price) because I said I was a Chinese citizen from Xinjiang. Hah!
This area sounds very cool, indeed... and what a beautiful structure.