In China, it is a tradition to go to temple fairs during the Chinese Spring Festival. People go there to pray for the upcoming new year. Beijing, as the culture capital of China, has a great number of temples for people to burn incense and worship the gods.

Baiyun Temple

Located in southwestern Beijing, Baiyun Temple (latterly White Cloud Temple), is the largest Taoist architectural complex in Beijing and was the center of Longmen sect of Taoism. Originally, it was built in memory of Qiu Chuji, a Taoist priest who established the Longmen sect of Taoism and one of the seven disciples of Wang Chongyang, the father of Quanzhen Daoism.

The construction was built along a central axis. The major hall is the Hall of Patriarch Qiu, which was built to worship Qiu Chuji. Visitors can also find a stele written with the inscription of the Emperor Qianlong, which records the history of the temple and the life story of Qiu Chuji.

Chinese name: Baiyun Si (白云寺)

Admission fee: 10 yuan

Transportation: take bus 26, 45, 319 or 717 and get off at Baiyunguan Station.

Hongluo Temple

Located in Huairou district, Hongluo Temple is a sacred place of Buddhism of various dynasties. First built in Eastern Jin Dynasty (317–420), the temple is the largest Buddhist temple in northern China. It has been renovated and enlarged several times in history. It was frequently visited by many Chinese emperors and monks.

The Hongluo Mountain lies to the north of the temple and the Hongluo Lake is located to the south of the temple. The Hongluo Temple is composed of five courtyards arranged along the central axis. The major buildings include the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall and the Meditation Room.

Chinese name: Hongluo Si (红螺寺)

Admission fee: 30 yuan

Transportation: take bus No.936 (branch) and get off at Hongluosi (Hongluo Temple).

Yunju Temple

Located at the foot of Baidai Mountain in Fangshan district, Yunju Temple is a famous ancient temple in Beijing. Built in the late Sui (581-618) and early Tang (618-907) dynasties, it is famous for the stone slabs that carved with the Buddhist scriptures known as the Tripitaka. The nine caves of Buddhist scriptures which treasures vast number of stone scriptures, paper scriptures and wooden scriptures are regarded as the Three Treasures in the temple.

Chinese name: Yunju Si (云居寺)

Admission fee: 40 yuan

Transportation: take bus No.917 and get off at Yunju Si (Yunju Temple).