Langhau Temple is the oldest, built in 242 AD, the largest, most authentic
and complete ancient temple in Shanghai. It is the most active, and is famous
for the Longhau Pagoda and the ringing of the bell ceremony, in the Bell Tower. The original temples were
destroyed several times by different wars, but were rebuilt in the mid 1800's to
the original architectural design of the Song Dynasty monastery.
Within this 5 acre compound there are 5 main halls that house many different
Buda statues, important treasures, antiques, and artifacts. Between the halls
are courtyards built in the style of the traditional Buddhist symmetry per the
Chinese concept of beauty.
Why am I telling you all of this? Besides being visited by many people during the Chinese New Year, one of the side buildings is the 3 storied Bell
Tower. There is a famous Evening Bell-Striking Ceremony on New Years eve to
welcome in the new year and bring good luck. The copper bell stands over 6 feet
high, 40" wide and weighs 11,023 pounds.
The Longhua Pagoda is the best, well-known historic pagoda
still standing within Shanghai. It has the traditional octagonal floor layout, and
the size of its 7 stories decrease in size from the bottom to the top. It is
decorated with balconies, banisters and turned up eaves. Bells hang from the
corners of the eaves and ring on windy days.
There is also the annual Longhua Temple Fair held here since the Ming
Dynasty , (mid 1300's), on the third day of the third month of the Lunar
Calendar. According to the local legend the dragon, (Longhua means Luster of
the Dragon) visits the temple to help grant the peoples wishes, this also
coincides with the blossoming of the peach trees in the Longhau Park.
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| burning incense |
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| one of 5 temples |
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| The Grand Hall of the Great Sage |
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| click on to enlarge |
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| statues of the 500 Luohans |
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| Lantern decorated walkway |
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| close up |
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| The Heavenly King Hall |
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| Longhua Pagoda |
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