Zhenru Town, though surrounded by a concrete jungle, remains a pure land

Zhenru Temple, a national key cultural relic protection unit, is located at 399 Lanxi Road, Putuo District, Shanghai. Driven by curiosity, I visited Zhenru Zen Temple, which is both a tourist attraction and a Buddhist sanctuary. Stepping through the mountain gate of the Buddhist land, the temple is solemn and serene, with the sound of chanting echoing continuously. Devotees and believers are seen burning incense and worshipping Buddha, each engrossed in their own activities. Their silent prayers and focused devotion are a tribute to the Buddha. There is no casual chatter here, only the sincere chanting of 'Buddha'. For thousands of years, Buddhist faith has deeply rooted in the hearts of Chinese believers. They firmly believe in the principles of good and evil, cause and effect, and practice them diligently. I do not believe in Buddhism, but I am fascinated by the majestic temples and shrines with a long history; I do not believe in Buddhism, but I am amazed by the power of the Buddha! How is it that so many devout men and women are obsessed with religion, worshipping Shakyamuni, Guanyin, and other Buddhas with such fervor? What kind of spiritual world is this? Zhenru Temple was built in the Yuan Dynasty, but most of the original Buddhist halls within the temple have been destroyed. The towering Zhenru Pagoda and the Yuantong Hall are all contemporary structures, aesthetically pleasing but lacking historical value. Only the Mahavira Hall, where the statue of Shakyamuni Buddha sits, is an ancient relic from the Yuan Dynasty. This main hall's ancient artifact has earned Zhenru Temple the title of a national key cultural relic protection unit, securing its place in history. In the past, Zhenru Zen Temple was built earlier than Zhenru Old Street and was famous far and wide. Later, the old street was named after the temple. Today, the urbanization process has long swallowed up Zhenru Old Street, leaving it nonexistent. Only Zhenru Zen Temple, this piece of religious pure land, remains, standing proudly amidst the concrete jungle of Shanghai's urban sub-center. All things in the world undergo cycles of reincarnation; the journey of the universe is bound by the way of heaven. Amitabha!