Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Latest Places to Eat & Drink
View All Places to Eat »
The pavlova comes crowned with jewel-like fruit.
Central Park Boathouse
The Village Tavern of Long Grove - exterior.
The Village Tavern
Hunter House Hamburgers
L’Escamoteur
Names on the bartop.
The Dive
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All China Shanghai Longhua Temple

Longhua Temple

A temple complex has existed on this site since the third century.

Shanghai, China

Added By
katielou106
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Approaching the interior of the Longhua Temple complex   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Temple gate   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Stone lions   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Longhua Pagoda   katielou106 / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

According to legend, Sun Quan, King of the Wu Kingdom, came into possession of the cremated remains of Buddha. To house these relics, the king ordered the construction of 13 pagodas, and Longhua Pagoda is rumored to be one of them.

Longhua is a Buddhist temple, dedicated to the Maitreya Buddha. It was originally built in 242, and although most of the current buildings are reconstructions, as Longhua was destroyed towards the end of the Tang dynasty and rebuilt in 977. The temple preserves the architectural designs of a Song dynasty monastery, which follow the principles of the Chan School.  Most buildings in the temple have been rebuilt several times throughout its history, and a restoration of the whole temple was carried out in 1954.

The temple complex is made up of five main halls, laid out in a style known as the "Sangharama Five-Hall Style" which follows a central north-south pointing arrangement. 

Longhua Pagoda is the tallest structure in the Longhua temple complex, standing over 40 meters high. The seven stories of the pagoda decrease in size as they move up the height from the base. It has an octagonal layout that consists of a hollow brick core surrounded by a wooden staircase. The outside of the pagoda is decorated with balconies, banisters, and upturned eaves. The current brick base and body of the pagoda date back to 977.

Every year on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, the Longhua Temple Fair is held, a tradition that has been going on since the Ming dynasty. According to local legend, dragons visit the temple on this day to grant people's wishes. The fair also coincides with the blossoming of the peach trees in Longhua Park, which makes it a beautiful time to visit.

In the past, the temple grounds have been used as a site for internment as well as for executions. It is closely linked to the devastation of the Kuomintang regime, a period commemorated in the nearby Longhua Martyrs Cemetery, which absorbed many of the extensive gardens and orchards that once surrounded the temple.

Related Tags

Pagodas Sacred Spaces Buddhism Temples

Know Before You Go

The Longhua Temple is located in the Longhua area of Shanghai.

Its street address is No. 2853 Longhua Road.

Because of its age, the pagoda is fragile and is not open to the public but can be admired from outside.

Community Contributors

Added By

katielou106

Published

August 31, 2023

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Longhua Temple
2853号 Longhua Rd
Xuhui Qu
Shanghai
China
31.17371, 121.451956
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Longhua Martyrs Cemetery

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai French Concession

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre

Shanghai, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shanghai

Shanghai

China

Places 31
Stories 3

Nearby Places

Longhua Martyrs Cemetery

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai French Concession

Shanghai, China

miles away

Shanghai Propaganda Poster Art Centre

Shanghai, China

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Shanghai

Shanghai

China

Places 31
Stories 3

Related Places

  • Palsangjeon

    Songnisan, South Korea

    Palsangjeon

    The only wooden pagoda remaining in South Korea is part of a Buddhist temple that was established in the year 553.

  • Unawatuna Peace Pagoda

    Unawatuna, Sri Lanka

    Unawatuna Peace Pagoda

    This peaceful, round shrine in the middle of the Sri Lankan jungle acts as a beacon of peace.

  • Kyaiktiyo pagoda, Golden Rock.

    Thaton District, Myanmar (Burma)

    Kyaiktiyo Pagoda

    A precariously perched golden rock defies gravity and brings pilgrims from across Myanmar.

  • Haetae, the Korean lion-dog.

    Tokyo, Japan

    Zen’yō-ji Temple

    An eclectic temple with Chinese architecture, Korean lion-dogs, an Indian god and a legendary 700-year-old tree.

  • Mahakal Mandir

    Darjeeling, India

    Mahakal Mandir

    At this unique temple in Darjeeling, Hindu and Buddhist practices co-exist harmoniously.

  • Kyoto, Japan

    Gokōshiyui Amidabutsu

    This statue of Buddha has a distinctive hairstyle meant to represent an unfathomably long period of meditation.

  • Bunhwangsa

    Gyeongju, South Korea

    Bunhwangsa

    This grand temple complex from the Old Silla era of Korea is home to a stone pagoda that was build in the 7th century.

  • Wuhan, China

    Guiyuan Temple

    Count the statues to gain insight into your future from Buddhist disciples.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.