Highlight

A millennium – old temple, initially built during the Northern Song Dynasty, boasting profound historical heritage.

Situated in the Jiefangbei business district, surrounded by skyscrapers, offering a strong contrast between modernity and antiquity.

Considered effective for praying for wealth, attracting many local people to come for blessings and fortune – seeking.

An ideal place for photography, with multiple shooting spots that can capture pictures featuring a blend of the ancient and the modern, exuding a cinematic feel.

Transportation Options

Metro: Take Metro Line 6 or Line 1, get out from Exit 6 of Xiaoshizi Station. The temple is right outside the exit.

Ticket Purchase

20 yuan per person. The ticket includes three sticks of incenses.

Itinerary

Grand Hall of the Great Buddha

The square allows you to capture the modern buildings and the ancient temple in one frame. With curling incense smoke and the magnificent architecture, your photos will be full of artistic conception. Outside the hall, you can offer incense to Buddha (receive incense and candles with the ticket). Face the Buddha statue, hold the incense upright above your head, bow three times, and then bow once in each of the four directions – east, south, west, and north in a clockwise manner.

Hall of Arhats

Counting arhats is a unique way of praying here. There are detailed instructions at the entrance of the hall. The arhat you count to is said to foretell your fortune for the year. Note that it costs 20 yuan for fortune – telling, and there is no English translation. Photography is prohibited here, and keep quiet.

Ancient Buddha Rock

It houses the oldest Buddha statues in the temple, dating back to the Northern Song Dynasty. Shoot from the second – floor corridor. The rooftops on both sides of the corridor form a diagonal line, with overlapping pavilions above. When you go to the opposite side and shoot towards the corridor, you can include the yellow wall and round door of the Ancient Buddha Rock in the frame, creating a rich – layered picture.

Second Floor of the Temple

Shooting the corridor from in front of the round window or through the door frame is stunning. The second – floor corridor is suitable for portrait photography. Using the temple buildings as the background, it will be more atmospheric when the incense smoke rises from the censer. Looking down from the second floor, you can see the overlapping black tiles and yellow walls, providing a broad view.

Tips

Avoid bringing burning incense into the hall. Incense – burning, photography, and filming are prohibited inside the hall, but the outside buildings can be photographed.

Dress appropriately. Avoid revealing clothes. Don’t wear sunglasses or hats when entering the hall.

Light incense at the oil – adding area instead of using a lighter. After lighting the incense, don’t blow it out with your mouth. You can wave it or gently fan it.

Keep quiet. Don’t make loud noises, and don’t step on the threshold.

Luohan Temple