Ancient Temples and Buddhist Heritage

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  Niushou Mountain Cultural Tourism Zone (Niushou Shan Wenhua Lüyouqu)

  Named after its twin peaks that resemble ox horns, Niushou Mountain is a sacred site in Chinese Buddhism and the birthplace of the Niutou Chan (Ox-Head School of Zen). With its picturesque landscapes and intricately crafted palaces, pagodas, and temples, the area offers both natural beauty and spiritual depth.
  One of the highlights of the site is the revered relic of the Buddha’s parietal bone (Shakyamuni’s cranial relic), which is enshrined here for long-term worship—a rare and sacred experience for pilgrims and visitors alike. Climb the mountain, pay homage at the temples, and find peace in the serene, timeless atmosphere.

  Address:

  No. 18 Ningdan Avenue, Jiangning District

  Admission:

  160 CNY per person

  Opening Hours:

  January 1 - July 17: 08:30-17:30; July 18 - August 31: Monday-Thursday 08:30-17:30, Friday-Sunday 08:30-20:30; September 1 - December 31: 08:30-17:30

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  Grand Baoen Temple Museum

  Grand Baoen Temple Museum is the largest and best-preserved temple ruin park in China. This remarkable site has yielded a treasure trove of world-class Buddhist relics, including the parietal bone relics of Xuanzang and the Buddha, spiritual relics, relics of revered saints, and the Seven-Treasure Ashoka Pagoda—finds that have astonished the global Buddhist community.
  More than just a masterpiece of Buddhist art, the site is a sacred destination for pilgrims and visitors alike. Here, you can experience the profound spirit of bao'en—a traditional Chinese concept of gratitude and reverence—and explore a unique cultural and spiritual sanctuary.

  Address:

  No. 1 Yuhua Road, outside Zhonghua Gate, Qinhuai District

  Admission:

  90 CNY per person

  Opening Hours:

  08:30-20:00. Open every day during summer; outside of summer, usually closed on the last Wednesday of each month. For details, refer to the official WeChat announcements.

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  Jiming Temple (Jīmíng Sì)

  Jiming Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in China and holds the distinguished title of being the foremost among the "480 Temples of the Southern Dynasties." Once the spiritual heart of Buddhism in China during that era, the temple remains a revered destination today.
  Each spring, delicate cherry blossoms blanket the temple grounds, their ethereal beauty softly framing the temple’s millennia-old architecture and adding a poetic charm to the setting. Jiming Temple is known for its strong spiritual atmosphere, with incense burning year-round. On New Year’s Eve, it becomes especially popular as visitors come to ring the bell and pray for blessings in the coming year.

  Address:

  No. 1 Jiming Temple Road, Xuanwu District

  Admission:

  10 CNY per person

  Opening Hours:

  7:30 AM – 5:30 PM

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  Linggu Temple (Línggǔ Sì)

  Originally named Kaishan Temple, Linggu Temple was renamed by Emperor Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty, who also honored it with the title “The First Zen Forest Under Heaven.” It became one of the three major Buddhist temples of the Ming era.
  Inside, the temple enshrines a seated statue of the great monk Xuanzang. Just in front of it stands the Xuanzang Relic Pagoda, which contains a fragment of Xuanzang’s skull—an object of deep reverence and a sacred treasure of the temple.

  Address:

  No. 2 Linggu Temple, Xuanwu District

  Admission:

  35 CNY per person

  Opening Hours:

  February 1 – November 30: 6:30 AM – 6:30 PM
  December 1 – January 31: 7:00 AM – 5:30 PM