Dabeiji Temple, a major Buddhist site in Tianjin

Dabeiji Temple is the largest Buddhist temple in the urban area of Tianjin. Also known as Dabeiyuan, it is located on Tianwei Road in Hebei District, Tianjin, covering an area of 42,000 square meters. The temple was originally built during the Shunzhi period of the Qing Dynasty and has undergone several renovations and expansions. It includes buildings such as the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Hall of Great Compassion, the Sutra Recitation Hall of Master Xuanzang, and the Memorial Hall of Master Hongyi. The Mahavira Hall houses hundreds of Buddha and Bodhisattva statues from various dynasties ranging from the Wei and Jin to the Ming and Qing. Dabeiji Temple is a protected cultural relic unit and a historically significant building with special protection status in Tianjin, and it is one of the key Buddhist temples in China. In addition to the usual discounted tickets, admission is free every Thursday.