Shanghai is home to an impressive collection of ancient temples, each rich in history and cultural significance. These sacred spaces not only function as places of worship but also provide serene retreats from the city’s hustle and bustle. Among the more than 100 Shanghai’s ancient temples, I wholeheartedly recommend visiting these gems—Jing’an, Longhua, Zhenru, and Jade Buddha—for their historical importance and architectural beauty.
Longhua Temple stands out as the oldest and largest, while in contrast, Jing’an Temple showcases stunning pre-Ming Dynasty design. Moreover, these temples also serve as vibrant cultural hubs, hosting festive events like the annual Longhua fair and New Year’s Prayers for Blessings at the Jade Buddha Temple. Additionally, all of them are easily accessible via local public transportation.
Shanghai’s Ancient Temples
Jing’an Temple (静安寺): The Brilliant Pearl of Shanghai’s Ancient Temples
Longhua Temple (龙华寺): Shanghai’s Historic Ancient Temple and Lively Temple Fair
Zhenru Temple (真如寺): The Tranquillity and Grandeur of Shanghai’s Ancient Temples
Jade Buddha Temple (玉佛寺): The Spectacular Scene of New Year Blessings at Shanghai’s Sacred Buddhist Site
Jing’an Temple
Jing’an Temple, a Buddhist temple with a history spanning over 1,700 years, is located in the bustling heart of Shanghai’s Jing’an District, at 1686 West Nanjing Road. Its origins date back to the Three Kingdoms period, and in 1216, during the ninth year of the Jiading reign (Southern Song dynasty), the temple was relocated to its current site by the abbot Zhongyi. Displaying both wisdom and bravery, he moved the temple to save it from the threat of flood damage at its original location. As a result, this relocation has preserved the temple to the present day.
During the Chinese New Year, Jing’an Temple becomes a key destination for people to pray for peace, health, and prosperity in the coming year. The architectural style of Jing’an Temple is unique, modeled after pre-Ming Dynasty structures. The golden roofs of the temple are meticulously crafted from a copper alloy.
Located in the heart of Shanghai’s busy commercial district, Jing’an Temple offers a calm retreat surrounded by malls, cafés, and modern architecture. From the pedestrian bridge at dusk, the temple’s golden roof stands out against the shimmering city lights, creating a peaceful contrast to the bustling urban life, providing a rare moment of serenity.
Longhua Temple
Located at 2853 Longhua Road, Longhua Temple is the oldest and largest Buddhist temple in Shanghai. While its exact construction date remains unclear, it is believed to have been established during the Three Kingdoms period, enduring over 1,700 years of history. In particular, Longhua Pagoda is said to date back even further, reportedly built during the Eastern Wu period of the Three Kingdoms (247 AD) by Sun Quan as an act of filial piety towards his parents.
The temple’s name is derived from a Buddhist story about the future Buddha Maitreya attaining enlightenment under the Dragon Flower tree. Longhua Temple’s layout follows a neat arrangement along its central axis, with halls such as the Maitreya Hall, the Heavenly Kings Hall, the Grand Hall, the Three Sages Hall, the Abbot’s Chambers, and the Sutra Library all lined up in order. This arrangement preserves the format of the traditional Song Dynasty seven-hall style of a Buddhist monastery.
Every year, on the third day of the third lunar month, Longhua Temple hosts a lively temple fair—a vibrant tradition that has been part of Shanghai’s cultural calendar for over 300 years, drawing large crowds of pilgrims. The air is filled with the aroma of street food, while stalls offering handicrafts line the path. Traditional folk performances and blessing activities add to the spectacle, creating a joyful celebration of culture.
I have fond memories of attending these fairs as a child, where the sounds of traditional music and the lively atmosphere made it an unforgettable experience.
Zhenru Temple
Zhenru Temple, a well-known ancient temple in Shanghai, is situated at 399 Lanxi Road in Putuo District. Covering nearly 20 acres, the temple has a total building area of 1,370 square meters. Originally named “Wanshou Temple” and commonly referred to as the “Great Temple,” Zhenru Temple was first constructed in the seventh year of the Yuan Dynasty.
As you enter Zhenru Temple, you are greeted by the orderly arrangement of its architectural complex along the central axis. From south to north, the buildings include the Heavenly Kings Hall, the Grand Hall, the Three Sages Hall, the Abbot’s Chambers, and the Sutra Library. The Grand Hall, the temple’s main structure, is one of the oldest wooden buildings in Shanghai and a rare architectural relic of early Jiangnan-style construction.
Within Zhenru Temple are many valuable artifacts, including Buddhist scriptures, gold seals, and statues from the Tang, Five Dynasties, Ming, and Qing periods. Of particular note is an ancient ginkgo tree, over 650 years old. This ginkgo tree miraculously revived in 1992 after withering during the Cultural Revolution. The temple has 108 prayer wheels, representing 108 types of troubles. You can walk around three times in a clockwise direction, spinning the wheels to pray for blessings.
In 1999, Zhenru Temple completed the construction of the Zhenru Pagoda, beneath which the temple enshrines the only Buddha relic in Shanghai.
Jade Buddha Temple
Jade Buddha Temple, located at the eastern end of Anyuan Road in Putuo District, Shanghai, was built in the eighth year of the Guangxu reign during the Qing Dynasty (1882).
The temple is named after two precious jade Buddha statues enshrined within. These rare treasures were brought back from Myanmar by Master Huigen of Putuo Mountain, with sponsorship from overseas Chinese benefactor Chen Junpu. The statues—one a seated Buddha and the other a reclining Buddha—are both intricately carved from single blocks of white jade, showcasing high artistic and religious value.
During the Chinese New Year, numerous worshippers and tourists flock to Jade Buddha Temple to offer incense and pray for peace, good fortune, and family happiness in the year ahead.
In addition to incense offerings, Jade Buddha Temple also hosts various Buddhist cultural activities during the New Year, including scripture recitations, Dharma teachings, and life release ceremonies.
How to reach these temples
Jing’an Temple (静安寺)
Address: 1686 Nanjing West Road, Jing’an District, Shanghai
How to get there: Take Subway Line 2 (Green Line) or Line 7 (Orange Line) to Jing’an Temple Station (静安寺站), exit through Exit 1 and walk directly to the temple.
Longhua Temple (龙华寺)
Address: 2853 Longhua Road, Xuhui District, Shanghai
How to get there: Take Subway Line 11 or Line 12 and get off at Longhua Station. Exit through Exit 2, walk along Longhua Road to an intersection, then head north along Xilonghua Road. The temple will be on the east side of Longhua Old Street.
Zhenru Temple (真如寺)
Address: 151 Zhenru Road, Putuo District, Shanghai
How to get there:
Take Subway Line 11 or Line 14 and get off at Zhenru Station. Exit through Exit 7 and walk about 300 meters to reach the temple.
Jade Buddha Temple (玉佛寺)
Address: No. 170, Anyuan Road, Putuo District, Shanghai
How to get there: Take Subway Line 13 and get off at Jiangning Road Station. Turn left onto Jiangning Road and walk 240 meters; the temple will be on your right. Alternatively, you can get off at Changshou Road Station (Lines 7 and 13), but it requires a longer walk. The temple is only 1.6 kilometers from Shanghai Railway Station. If you arrive at the station, you can walk directly to the temple.
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