The Big Bell Temple

Beijing's attractions are full of hidden gems. Today, we'll introduce a lesser-known but impressive attraction—the Big Bell Temple. It houses the Yongle Bell, the heaviest and most intricately inscribed bell in ancient China. Officially known as the Big Bell Temple Ancient Bell Museum, the main attraction here is the Yongle Bell, cast during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty. Weighing 46.5 tons, it far surpasses other large bells in history, such as the Tang Dynasty's Jingyun Bell (6 tons) and the Jin Dynasty's Jinding Bell (approx. 15 tons). Furthermore, with 230,000 characters of Buddhist scriptures cast inside and outside, it's the ancient bell with the most inscriptions in the world. Remarkably, the Yongle Bell is still functional, rung every New Year, its sound carrying up to 45 km away. As an ancient bell museum, it houses not only a wide variety of large and small ancient bells from different periods in Chinese history, but also many foreign bells, showcasing the wonder and charm of bell culture. Besides admiring the bells, you can also appreciate the beauty of ancient Chinese architecture. The main building, the Big Bell Tower, features a unique design with a round top and square base. The magnolia blossoms in mid-to-late March add to the charm of this ancient temple.