Fayuan Temple

As the oldest surviving ancient temple in Beijing, Fayuan Temple, also known as the "Fragrant Temple," is located at the southern end of Jiaozi Hutong on the east side. It is also the only remaining place of the four major flower fairs in Beijing. Since the establishment of the China Buddhist Academy, Fayuan Temple has also provided undergraduate education to monks from all over the country, so they can often be found in the temple. With the purple clouds, white snow, lingering fragrance, blooming flowers, and towering buildings, the temple lives up to its name as the "Temple of Flowers." The red walls and blue tiles of the ancient temple have their own unique charm, and you can even meet cats under the trees in the courtyard.

Address: No. 7 Fayuan Temple Front Street, Xicheng District

Xihuang Temple

Like the famous Lama Temple, Xihuang Temple was built by imperial decree in 1652 and was divided into East and West Xihuang Temples. However, it was tragically destroyed and only the Xihuang Temple Tower Courtyard remains. It was once the residence of the Panchen Lama when he came to Beijing and is now a place of learning for Tibetan Buddhism. There are also several exhibition halls in Xihuang Temple, such as the Thangka Exhibition and the Buddhist Culture Ceramic Exhibition, which showcase its rich historical heritage. The quiet and secluded Xihuang Temple allows people to unconsciously calm down. Besides experiencing the historical atmosphere, you can also admire ancient Thangka works.

Address: No. 11 Huangsi Street, Chaoyang District

Zhihua Temple

Zhihua Temple, with a history of 500 years, was built by Wang Zhen, a eunuch of the Ministry of Rites, in the early Ming Dynasty. After experiencing prosperity and war, the main building on the temple's central axis has been preserved until today, making it the most complete group of wooden structures from the Ming Dynasty in Beijing. According to the evaluation in the Ming History, Zhihua Temple was "extremely poor in architecture." There is a unique Ming Dynasty prayer wheel in the Tibetan hall, and the exquisite and gorgeous interior design reflects the temple's historical and cultural significance. The music played here is a living fossil of Chinese music, which dates back more than 500 years and can still be heard today.

Address: No. 5 Lumicang Hutong, Dongcheng District.

Translator: ZHAO Huinan

Reviewer: LIU Yu