Sites of Worship

China respects the freedom of religious belief.  Religion is as important an aspect of life as it is anywhere else in the world and belief is permitted as an individual right.

Many religions coexist in relative harmony here, with many Chinese practicing Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, and Christianity, each respected as independent but equal.

As the capital of a country with many faiths, Beijing has a great variety of sacred sites, reflecting the five religious traditions that can be found across the country.

 

BUDDHISM

Buddhism is the dominant religious philosophy in China; it first arrived during the Han Dynasty and played a central role in Chinese culture and history.

Generally speaking, Buddhism in China can be categorized into Han, Tibetan and Southern Buddhism. Han and Tibetan Buddhism are significant subdivisions; they both preserved important Sanskrit literary works that would otherwise have been lost in Southern Buddhism.

There are numerous Buddhist temples in Beijing, including some that are celebrated.

1. Confucius Temple 孔庙

Confucius (Kongzi) (551-479 BC), who also bore the names Qiu and Zhongni, is acknowledged as ancient China's greatest thinker and philosopher. Confucianism remains an important aspect of traditional Chinese culture today.

Located at the junction of Ancient Culture and Imperial College streets, the 700-year-old, 22,000 sq.m temple was a sacrificial site for emperors of the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Visitors can view the temple's relics from the compound's grand buildings. Among them is the Jinshi Inscription Stele, artefacts relating to the Chinese Imperial Examination System, and what is known as the "13 Scriptures Stele Forest." In 1988, the temple was designated a site under the National Relics Protection Unit.

Address: 13 Guoaijian Jie, Dongcheng District

东城区国子监街13号

Tel: +86 10 8401 1977

Opening hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Admission: 10 yuan (for adults), 6 yuan (for old), 3 yuan (for children)

Bus/Subway: 13, 18, 44, 62, 104, 108, 116, 406, 807

 

2. Temple of Emperors of Successive Dynasties in China 历代帝王庙

This temple is one of the three imperial temples (Taimiao, Confucius Temple and Emperors' Temple) in Beijing. It was an imperial temple during the Ming and Qing dynasties, used for offering sacrifices to gods and ancestors such as Yanhuang (the godfather of Chinese) and distinctive emperors and heroes in history. It existed only in rural Beijing. The magnificent "Jingdechongsheng" Hall has the same elevation and size as the Palace of Heavenly Purity in the Forbidden City. The huge red wall before the gate is of a type seldom seen in China. The buildings such as Shenchu, Shenku, Zaishengting and Jingting were constructed according to the system of imperial graves. It is simple and mysterious.

 

3. Jietai Temple 戒台寺

During any visit to China, you will encounter tour guides with tales of ancient trees in temple courtyards. One of the finest examples must be the Jiulong Pine Tree (or Nine-Dragon Pine), found inside Jietai Temple, and said to be over 1,300 years old.

Built during the Tang Dynasty, the temple is a tree lover's delight with the main complex liberally dotted with ancient pines, many of which have their own quirky names.

Address: South of Maanshan, Mentougou District

门头沟区马鞍山南

Tel: +86 10 6980 6611

Opening hours: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Buses/Subway: You 7* at Qianmen or 335 at Fuchengmen or

Take 931 at Pingguoyuan

 

4. Yonghegong (Lama Temple) 雍和宫

Yonghegong (Lama Temple) is probably the most prominent and colourful temple in Beijing. At one time it was the official residence of Count Yin Zhen, a Chinese emperor during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). On becoming emperor in 1723, the temple was transformed from green to imperial yellow.

Now a working lamasery, it has three spectacular archways and five main halls, each larger than the last and all featuring courtyards and galleries. Keep an eye out for the 18-metre high Buddha in Wanfu Pavilion.

Address: 12 Yonghe Gong Dajie, Dongcheng District

东城区雍和宫大街12号

Tel: +86 10 6404 4499

Opening hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Bus/Subway: 13, 18, 44, 62, 116, 406, 807

 

5. Yunju Temple 云居寺

The Yunju (or Cloud Dwelling) Temple that is situated in a limestone cave, south of the Shangfang Mountains, grew up around a shrine. Two bone fragments found at the site were said to belong to Siddhartha Gautama, the founder of Buddhism. More than 77,000 engraved wooden blocks containing the Chinese Tripitaka or Buddhist scriptures draw large crowds to the site.

Address: Dashiwo County, Fangshan District

房山区大石窝镇水头村南

Tel: +86 10 6138 9612

Opening hours: 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m.

Buses/Subway: You 10* from 7-8 a.m. at station 22 at Qianmen, 343 at Wanyuan Lu, 6 at Liuliqiao or 373 at Yuquan Lu or 917 at Tianqiao and get off at Fangshan, change to a minibus to Zhangfang.

*You means tourist bus

 

6. Fahai Temple 法海寺

Buddhist murals that date to the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) can be seen at Fahai (Law of the Sea) Temple on the western fringes of the city. In meticulous detail, the murals represent the meeting of Buddhist deities.

Address:  28 Mokoushi, Shijingshan District

石景山区模式口28号

Tel: +86 10 8871 5776

Opening hours: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Buses: 337 at Changchun Jie and get off at Shijingshan station or 311 at Pingguoyuan and get off at Moshikoucun.

 

7. Sleeping Buddha Temple 卧佛寺

Located on the eastern side of the Fragrant Hills, the temple was built in the 7th century during the heyday of the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). It was enlarged during the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) to accommodate a huge bronze reclining Buddha, cast in 1320 using 25,000 kilograms of bronze.

The 5.2-metre-long Sleeping Buddha depicts Sakyamuni, a founder of Buddhism. Surrounding it the 12 sculptures illustrate the mourning of Sakyamuni's 12 disciples.

Address: Wofuosi Lu, Fragrant Hill, Haidian District

海淀区香山

Tel: +86 10 6259 1283

Opening hours: 6 a.m.-7 p.m.

Buses/Subway: 318, 333, 360, 714, 737, 904, Te* 5

 

8. Tanzhe Temple 潭柘寺

This hillside temple consists of pavilions, prayer halls, courtyards and a group of pagodas dating from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

Address: Tanzhe Mountain, Mentougou District

门头沟区潭柘山

Tel: +86 10 6086 2500

Opening hours: 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

Bus/Subway: 307, 326, 336 and get off at Hetan station, change to a long distance bus or 931 or minibus at Pingguoyuan

 

TAOISM

Taoism is the only religion that actually originated in China. As with Buddhism, a philosophical, then religious, tradition, it has, with Confucianism, shaped Chinese life for more than 2,000 years.

The religion is a derivative of the philosophical ideas of Laozi, a famous philosopher. A key concept in Taoism is "the Way," that is variously interpreted to give philosophical or religious guidance to the Chinese people. At one time, it was used as an instrument of rule, but today it survives both as a religious tradition, especially in Taiwan, and as a philosophy.

The most common representation of Taoist theology is the circular Yin Yang figure. It symbolizes the balance of opposites in existence: when equally present, all is calm; when one outweighs the other, confusion and chaos appear.

1. Baiyunguan (White Cloud Taoist Temple) 白云观

Baiyunguan is the largest Taoist centre in Beijing. The temple has a library of 5,485 Taoist classics and many Taoists in the temple are well versed in its philosophy. During the Spring Festival, the fair at Baiyunguan is very popular.

Address: Baiyun Lu, Fuxingmenwai Dajie，Xicheng District

西城区复兴门外大街白云路

Tel: +86 10 6346 3531

Opening hours: 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.

Bus/Subway: 19, 48, 114, 708, 727

 

Dongyue Taoist Temple 东岳庙

This is a charming temple and an active place of worship with much to entertain the visitor. There are halls of devotion, seasonal market stalls and plentiful totems of good fortune.

Address: 141 Chaoyangmenwai Dajie, Chaoyang District

朝阳区朝阳门外大街141号

Tel: +86 10 6551 0151, 6551 4148

Opening hours: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. (Tues.-Sun.).

Bus/Subway: get off at Chaoyangmen Subway Station, and walk 600 metres to the east

 

CHRISTIANITY

Christianity (Nestorian) arrived in China as early as the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). The term Christianity often connotes Protestantism, with Catholicism being considered a different religion rather than a different tradition.

Today China has respect for the freedom of religious belief and allows the independent running of religious affairs.

In history, the fortunes of Christianity have waxed and waned. As a consequence of the Opium War (1839-42), the Qing government was forced to accept terms that made Christianity legal in China.

After the founding of People's Republic of China in 1949, Christianity gradually removed its foreign tag and became an acceptable and independent Chinese institution. Today it has a firm root in contemporary Chinese culture.

 

1. Chongwenmen Protestant Church 崇文门教堂

Address: D2 Hougou Hutong, Chongwen District (in the hutong beside Tongren Hospital)

崇文区内后沟胡同丁2号，同仁医院东侧

Tel: +86 10 6513 3549, 6522 9984

Opening hours: 7 a.m.-8:30 p.m.

 

2. Church of the Immaculate Conception (Nantang and Xuanwumentang) 宣武门教堂

Address: 141 Qianmenxi Dajie, Xuanwu District

宣武区前门西大街141 号

Tel: +86 10 6603 7139

Opening hours: 6 a.m.-9 a.m. (3 hours for each day)

 

3. Zhushikou Protestant Church珠市口教堂

Address: 129 Qianmennan Dajie, Chongwen District (at the Liangguang Dajie and Qianmen Dajie crossroads)

崇文区前门南大街129号（两广大街和前门大街交叉口）

Tel: +86 10 6301 6678

 

4. Kuanjie Protestant Church宽街教堂

Address: 51 Di'anmendong Dajie, Dongcheng District (at the Di'anmendong Dajie and Kuanjie crossroads)

东城区地安门东大街51号（地安门东大街和宽街交叉口）

Tel: +86 10 8403 9432

 

5. Church of St. Joseph (Dongtang and Wangfujingtang) 王府井教堂

Address: 74 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District

东城区王府井大街74号

Tel: +86 10 6524 0634

Opening hours: 5 a.m.-11 a.m.

 

6. Church of Our Saviour (Beitang and Xishikutang) 西什库教堂

Address: 33 Xishiku, Xicheng District

西城区西什库33号

Tel: +86 10 6617 5198

 

Islam

Islam is a religion with more than 1,400 million believers worldwide and has prospered throughout history in Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Indonesia. Islam arrived in China during the Tang and Song dynasties (618 BC-AD 1279) through trade links.

From the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), Islam became an independent religion in China, and many of its followers came from ethnic groups in Xinjiang Province.

There are now more than 100 million Chinese Muslims, many living in the deserts of Xiangchan and the more fertile regions of mid and eastern China. There are more than 40 mosques in Beijing that are open to the public.

 

1. Niu Jie Mosque 牛街

Niu Jie, or Ox Street Mosque, is the oldest mosque in Beijing and enjoys great reputation among Muslims of all persuasions and nationalities. It is a striking mosque and definitely worth a visit. According to legend, an ancient imam lives in the catacombs beneath the mosque and if non-believers should attempt to enter its prayer hall, he will pop up and send the "heretic to Allah" by perforating them with small steel balls!

Address: 88 Niu Jie, Xuanwu District

宣武区牛街88号

Tel: +86 10 6353 2564

Opening hours: 5:10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Buses/Subway: 6, 10, 50, 53, 61, 109

 

2. Dongsi Mosque 东四礼拜寺

Built in 1447 during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it combines Chinese and Arabic styles like the Niujie Mosque. The mosque's library houses valuable manuscripts of the Koran, the Hadith, Islamic law and other works of Islamic philosophy, history and literature published in Egypt, India, Turkey and Pakistan. Three services are held at dawn, 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. daily. The site is also the Headquarters of the Beijing branch of China Islamism Association.

 

Address: 13 Dongsi Nandajie, Dongcheng District

东城区东四南大街13号

Tel: +86 10 6525 7824

Opening hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Bus/Subway: 106, 108, 110, 116