Shuanglin Temple

If you can only visit one place in Pingyao, Shuanglin Temple is the best choice! The temple was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,400 years. It houses more than 2,000 painted sculptures, 1,566 of which are well-preserved. The temple is also known as the Shuanglin Temple Painted Sculpture Art Museum and is hailed as the "treasure house of Oriental sculpture art." 📍Address: No. 28, Shuanglin Zheng Street, Qiaotou Village, Zhongdu Township, Pingyao County 🚗Transportation: Take Bus 108 North Line to the temple. There are many buses available. Parking is available at the entrance (CNY 10 per car). ⏰Best time to visit: Low season: 8:00–17:30 (last entry at 17:00) Peak season: 8:00–19:00 (last entry at 18:30) 💰Admission: CNY 33 per person CNY 50 per person for a guided tour (optional) 🌟Highlights: Despite the passage of time, the painted sculptures here are still colorful and vivid. Be sure to visit the following halls: Qianfo Hall (featuring Avalokitesvara and the most handsome Skanda, the hall occupies 1/4 of the temple); Bodhisattva Hall (featuring the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara and more than 400 hanging sculptures behind it, which are said to help people see the Buddha statues more clearly and reduce dust accumulation); Shijia Hall (mainly telling the story of Sakyamuni's enlightenment, with many small grids, each telling a story, like a clay comic strip). 📌Tips: The tour takes about an hour. You can get a free stamp at the cultural and creative store at the entrance. You can also climb the mountain wall and walk around. The surrounding buildings are all ancient and there is no commercialization.