Xiangji Temple is a place of serene beauty

Xi'an, with its history of over 6000 years of urban construction, has left behind numerous cultural relics. As the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, it has countless romantic tales. Xi'an is home to several ancestral temples of Han Chinese Buddhism, such as the Daxingshan Temple and Xiangji Temple. Xiangji Temple, as the ancestral temple of the Pure Land Sect, one of the 'Eight Schools of Chinese Buddhism,' is located in Xiangji Temple Village, Guodu Street, Chang'an District, Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province. It is situated directly north of the Zhongnan Mountains' Meridian Valley and to the west of Shenhe Plain, about 17.5 kilometers from the center of Xi'an. Xiangji Temple was one of the famous eight temples in Fanchuan during the Tang Dynasty. In the second year of Emperor Gaozong's Yonglong era (681), Master Shandao, one of the founders of the Pure Land Sect, passed away. His disciple Huaiyun built Xiangji Temple and a stupa in honor of Master Shandao's merits, making Xiangji Temple the first site of the Pure Land Sect after its official establishment in China. The temple complex of Xiangji Temple is majestic, with a tranquil environment and vast scale. It was extremely famous and flourished during the Tang Dynasty. Emperor Gaozong of Tang, Li Zhi, once visited Xiangji Temple to worship Buddha and bestowed over a thousand relics and a hundred precious banners for offerings. Empress Wu Zetian and Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, mother and son, visited the temple multiple times to worship. The famous Tang Dynasty poet Wang Wei wrote a poem praising Xiangji Temple: 'Unaware of Xiangji Temple, several miles into the cloud-covered peaks. Ancient trees with no path for man, deep mountains where are the bells. The sound of springs chokes on precarious rocks, the color of the sun cold on green pines, at dusk the empty pool curves, in meditation controls the poison dragon.' This illustrates the tranquility of the place. 🌴Opening hours: 8:00——18:00 🌴Admission: Free 🌴Key attractions: The 1300-year-old Tang Dynasty Shandao Relic Stupa, museum, Tang Dynasty Xiangji Temple Dharani Sutra Pillars, etc. 🌴Nearby attractions: Shaanxi Archaeological Museum, about 1 kilometer away. 🌴Recommended visit duration: 1-2 hours 🌴Transportation: Take bus 215 or 239 in Xi'an to Weiqu, then transfer to the bus from Weiqu to Xiangji Temple 🌴Dining: There is a small market at the temple entrance with various snacks. Xiangji Temple is not as crowded with tourists as several other temples in Xi'an, offering a much quieter atmosphere for a leisurely stroll through the temple grounds.