[2025 Nanjing Attraction] Travel Guide for Dinglin Temple (North Gate) (Updated Mar)

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In Nanjing, I prefer this 1,500-year-old Southern Dynasty Buddhist temple, Fangshan Dinglin Temple, to the famous Jiming Temple. As a famous temple in Nanjing, it is one of the "48 Scenic Spots of Nanjing" and has a profound historical and cultural heritage that is fascinating. The history of Dinglin Temple can be traced back to the 16th year of Yuanjia in the Southern Dynasty Liu Song (439 AD), when it was founded by the foreign monk Zhu Faxiu. After experiencing the vicissitudes of life, it was rebuilt by the Zen master Shanjian in the Southern Song Dynasty. It has witnessed countless dynastic changes and historical vicissitudes. The Dinglin Temple Pagoda in the temple was built in the 9th year of Qiandao in the Southern Song Dynasty (1173 AD). It is a miracle in architectural history and one of the most inclined ancient pagodas in the world. Its inclination is 3.5 degrees higher than that of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy. It has stood for hundreds of years and is truly amazing. Today, Dinglin Temple is still a popular place of worship. When you step into the temple, the sound of Buddhist chanting echoes in the air, and the scent of sandalwood lingers around you, making you forget your worldly troubles and feel peaceful and calm. 🎈Tour route: Enter through the mountain gate and visit the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Mahavira Hall, Bell Tower, Drum Tower, Vegetarian Restaurant, Wenxin Courtyard, and Patriarch Courtyard in turn. Each place is worth savoring. The temple houses a large number of historical relics and monuments, including steles and exquisite stone carvings from various dynasties. It is highly regarded in the Buddhist community as "Southern Dinglin, Northern Shaolin." Many eminent monks were born here, including the ancestor of the Buddhist temple wheel, Fu Dashi. During the Liang Dynasty, the first place where the ancestor of Zen Buddhism, Bodhidharma, came to China to meditate was also established in Dinglin Temple. Buddhist culture has a long history here. 📍Address: Fangshan Dinglin Temple 🚘Self-driving: Navigate to "Nanjing Fangshan Dinglin Temple" directly. There is a parking lot nearby, so you don't have to worry about parking. 🚇Subway: Take Metro Line 1 to Nanjing Jiaoyuan Station, exit from Exit 3, and transfer to Bus 803, 827, 835, etc. Get off at Fangshan Station. When you come to Nanjing, you must visit Fangshan Dinglin Temple to experience the historical depth and Buddhist charm that has spanned thousands of years.

🌟【The hustle and bustle of Tiefo Temple VS the tranquility of Dinglin Temple】🌟 Imagine the hustle and bustle of Tiefo Temple, and then turn around and head 2.5 kilometers north to Dinglin Temple, which is like a paradise, quietly guarding its peaceful years. This is not only a visual feast of contrast, but also a journey of spiritual baptism! 🌿 🏰【Dinglin Temple: The whisper of history】🏰 Stepping into Dinglin Temple is like traveling through time and space. This ancient temple, named after Dinglin Spring, has a grand architectural scale. The three courtyards are well-arranged, and every brick and tile reveals the vicissitudes and heaviness of history. The solemnity of the Leiyin Hall, the simplicity of the Yuan Dynasty architecture, the exquisiteness of the Ming and Qing relics, and the brilliant Ming Dynasty murals in the East Side Hall, all tell stories of the past. 🖌️ 🏛️【Mountain Gate Loft: Artistic treasure】🏛️ Speaking of the highlights of Dinglin Temple, we have to mention the towering mountain gate and the lotus head hanging flower column caisson in the mountain gate loft. The ingenious design of the heavy eaves and nine ridges, three bright and two dark, is breathtaking. In the second floor caisson, the blooming round lotus, colorful and gorgeous, seems to be able to smell the fragrance of history. 🌸 👨‍🦳👨‍🦳【Temple Keeper Master Niu: Inheritance and persistence】👨‍🦳👨‍🦳 Behind the tranquility of Dinglin Temple is the silent guardianship of Master Niu and his son. From "Old Niu" to "Little Niu", they have guarded this cultural heritage with more than 30 years of persistence. Master Niu's words reveal a deep understanding and pride in this responsibility. Their wish is simple and great - to let future generations witness this preciousness with their own eyes. 👏 🚗【Travel Tips】🚗 📍Location: Dinglin Temple is located 2.5 kilometers north of Tiefo Temple. It is best to drive or charter a car to get there, and there is no direct bus. 🎟️Tickets: Vehicles in the Daliang Mountain Scenic Area need to pay a ticket fee of CNY 30. ⏰Time: It is recommended to visit at 8 am to enjoy more quiet time. The scenic area is open until 6 pm, and there is a lunch break at noon. 🔍Nearby recommendations: You might as well visit Kaihua Temple, Chongming Temple, etc. along the way to make your cultural tour more colorful. 🎉【Early arrival benefits revealed】🎉 Let me tell you a secret, if you go early, you might encounter more unexpected surprises! 😉

Dinglin Temple Pagoda is located at the northwest foot of Fangshan in Jiangning District, Nanjing City, also known as Fangshan Leaning Tower. The tower leans 7.59 degrees to the north, which exceeds the world-famous Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, and is still known as the 'World's First Leaning Tower'. The Dinglin Temple Pagoda was originally built in the ninth year of the Qiandao era of the Southern Song Dynasty (1173 AD). The tower is about 14.50 meters high and is a seven-story octagonal brick tower with a wood-like structure. The first and second floors are square inside, while the third floor and above are cylindrical. A wooden frame is set on the fifth floor to support the shacha pole. The ground floor has a door only on the south side, with a stone-carved Sumisena in the center, and Buddha niches on the east, west, and north sides. All other floors have doors on all four sides. The body of the tower is built with bricks to imitate the structure of wooden columns and brackets.