Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum

Five Pagoda Temple, also known as Zhenjue Temple, was built in 1473 during the Ming Yongle period by the monk Bandida from the Western Regions, commissioned by Emperor Zhu Di. The entire vajrasana platform was constructed using white marble, but over time, the iron within the stone oxidized, causing it to turn a light orange-yellow color. The temple is renowned for its five pagodas, with the central pagoda being a thirteen-tiered structure, each topped with a small, bell-shaped finial. In 1751 and 1761, Emperor Qianlong upgraded Zhenjue Temple to a royal temple as he celebrated his mother, Empress Dowager Chongqing’s sixtieth and seventieth birthdays.

In the past, Beijingers had a custom of climbing Five Pagoda Temple during the Double Ninth Festival.

After the establishment of the People's Republic of China, Five Pagoda Temple was designated as a national key cultural relic protection unit. In the 1980s, the Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum was established based on Five Pagoda Temple. In the Beijing area, including the Zhoukoudian site in Fangshan, the Jiangying site in Fangshan Town, the Shangzhai site in Pinggu, and the Xueshan site in Changping, there are many exquisite stone carvings left behind. These include cliff carvings, stelae, epitaphs, and inscriptions on stones. The museum's collection exceeds 2,600 pieces, including Northern Wei sculptures, Tang Dynasty epitaphs, Jin-Yuan carvings, and Qing Dynasty stelae, with the renowned Northern Wei Taihe sculptures among them.

Visiting Five Pagoda Temple offers a chance to explore religious culture, appreciate stone carving art, and experience the breathtaking autumn beauty of Beijing. During late autumn, the ginkgo trees at Five Pagoda Temple provide one of the most stunning displays of fall colors in Beijing.

The ginkgo trees in Beijing, among the three temples with the most historical and cultural significance, are: the emperor's ginkgo at Tanzhe Temple, the thousand-year-old ginkgo at Dajue Temple, and the six-hundred-year-old ginkgo at Zhenjue Temple.

The Zhenjue Temple, also known as the Beijing Stone Carving Art Museum, houses a vast collection of stone steles. The history, design, and inscriptions on these steles are profound and extensive, offering ample material for study and reflection.

While visiting Five Pagoda Temple to enjoy the ginkgo trees, don’t miss nearby attractions such as Beijing Zoo: Located across the South Changhe River from the temple’s south side, the zoo holds cherished memories for many Beijingers and is a must-visit for families.

Not far to the west of the Five Pagoda Temple are the National Library and Zizhuyuan Park. Additionally, the renovated Capital Indoor Stadium, a venue for the Beijing Winter Olympics, is also nearby.

Additionally, close to the Five Pagoda Temple is the South Changhe River cruise. This is a currently operating boat tour on the Beijing Grand Canal water system, and it's definitely worth experiencing.