Pear Blossoms Fall Like Snow on an Ancient Temple | Zhihua Temple Travel Guide

The March wind blows through Lumicang Hutong in Beijing, where a hidden gem lies—Zhihua Temple, the best-preserved Ming Dynasty wooden architectural complex in Beijing. Between the red walls and gray tiles, two ancient pear trees, over 500 years old, are in full bloom. Snow-white petals fall like clouds, imbuing the eaves of the halls with a refreshing fragrance. Rotating Scripture Library: An Exquisite National Treasure Inside the Sutra Hall stands the only surviving Ming Dynasty rotating scripture library in Beijing. Behind each Buddha statue, drawers hold scriptures that monks piously recited 500 years ago. Looking up, the colorful paintings on the caisson ceiling still shimmer with gold and green, and Sanskrit characters are scattered like stars, resembling an ethereal dream of a Buddhist kingdom. Caisson Ceiling: Lost Stars However, the most dazzling stars have long since journeyed across the ocean. The coiled dragon caisson ceiling of the Wanfo Pavilion once resembled a descending sky, with cloud patterns entwined with gold and dragons raising their heads. Even Liang Sicheng marveled that it was "not something a Buddhist temple should possess." Now, it has become a drifting lone cloud in the Philadelphia Museum of Art, leaving only scars on the temple's ceiling and glimpses in old photographs. Jing Music: A Legacy of Ming Dynasty Court Ritual Music At 3 p.m., the sounds of Buddhist music awaken in Zhihua Hall. The melancholic tones of the guan (a double-reed wind instrument) and the clear notes of the yunluo (a set of tuned gongs) fill the air as the melody of "Jin Wushan" flows from the Ming Dynasty palace to the present day. The Gongche notation, passed down orally through 27 generations of temple musicians, holds the legacy of Tang and Song Dynasty melodies and the echoes of courtly dreams. Closing your eyes, you can almost see the young Hu Qingxue diligently practicing long tones in the frost, condensing 500 years of breath into an inextinguishable soul within the instrument's holes. Leaving the temple, twilight spills over the glass facade of Galaxy SOHO, embracing the black tiles and flying eaves of Zhihua Temple. Pear blossoms still flutter, and ancient music continues to flow—the stories here have never truly been swept away by time. Travel Guide 📅 Bloom Update | Photo taken on March 25, 2025 🔥 Full bloom! Go now! The two 500-year-old pear trees in front of Zhihua Hall are in full bloom, with white flowers covering the red walls like snow. The bloom is expected to last until around April 10. Off-peak suggestion: Go before 9 a.m.! Fewer people and soft light, perfect for capturing empty scenes! 📸 Best Photo Spots: Ancient Style Inspiration 1️⃣ [Diamond-shaped window frame of Zhihua Hall] 📍 Location: Inside the hall, on the east side. Take photos of the pear blossoms outside through the diamond-shaped wooden window! ✨ Tip: Clean a section of the window glass with paper from the outside for clearer photos. The red window frame complements the white blossoms beautifully. 2️⃣ [Ancient and Modern Fusion] 📍 Location: East side of Zhihua Hall. Use a telephoto lens to capture the pear blossoms, the ancient temple, and Galaxy SOHO! A magical collision of modern and classical elements. 🎫 Reservation Guide ✔️ Tickets: Book tickets in advance (20 RMB) up to 5 days prior through the official WeChat account "Zhihua Temple." Tickets are released daily at 9 p.m.! Be quick! 🆓 Free: 1,000 free tickets are available on-site for students, seniors, and Beijing Trade Union card holders. Arrive early, as they run out quickly. (You can book tickets in advance on the official WeChat account and get a refund after receiving the free ticket.) ⚡ Note: The first 200 visitors on Wednesdays can enter for free. You need to book free tickets in advance on the official WeChat account. ⏰ Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (last entry at 4:30 p.m.). Closed on Mondays! Don't miss out! 🚇 Transportation: Hidden Hutong Gem 📍 Address: 5 Lumicang Hutong, Dongcheng District (navigate to "Zhihua Temple") 🚇 Subway: Take Line 6 or Line 2 to Chaoyangmen Station, Exit G, and walk for about 10 minutes. 🚗 Driving: Park at Galaxy SOHO parking lot and walk for 5 minutes. ✨ Unique Temple Experiences 🔔 Jing Music Live: Daily performances at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Enjoy 560 years of intangible cultural heritage accompanied by pear blossoms—a feast for the ears! 🏯 Rotating Scripture Library: The Ming Dynasty wooden scripture library inside the Sutra Hall (one of three in Beijing, the other two are from the Qing Dynasty and located in Yonghe Temple and Summer Palace) is an architectural marvel. ⚡ Note: There is a round sculpture of Vairocana Buddha at the top. It's not visible from a normal upward viewing angle. You need to go to the right corner to see it‼️ 🌿 Hidden Flower Sea: The purple lilacs near the drum tower at the entrance of the courtyard are already in bloom, and crabapple blossoms will follow in April. 💎 Souvenirs: The pear blossom quicksand fridge magnets are beautiful!