Guide to Nanjing Da Baoen Temple——Thousand-year-old pagoda, a treasure of Jiangnan 🌟
#MarchGoodPlaces2025
Nanjing, the ancient capital of six dynasties, has many historical and cultural sites, among which the Da Baoen Temple is a treasure of Chinese Buddhist culture. This temple was built by Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty to repay his mother’s kindness. It has a long history and is known as “the first temple in China”. Today, after restoration, the Da Baoen Temple Ruins Park has become one of Nanjing's must-visit cultural landmarks. Here are not only world-class glazed tower ruins, but also advanced technological displays and rich historical stories that are worth savoring!
📍 Introduction to Da Baoen Temple
🔹 Address: No. 1 Yuhua Road, Qinhuai District, Nanjing
🔹 Opening hours: 09:00-17:30 (admission stops at 16:30)
🔹 Tickets: Regular tickets are 98 yuan, student tickets are 49 yuan (specific prices are subject to official announcements)
🔹 Suitable for: history lovers, cultural explorers, family travelers, Buddhists, photography enthusiasts
Da Baoen Temple was once a Buddhist holy place built by the royal family of the Ming Dynasty. The most famous feature of it is the "Glass Pagoda", which is known as "one of the Seven Wonders of the Medieval World"! Although the original tower was destroyed in the war, today's Da Baoen Temple Ruins Park perfectly combines historical relics with modern technology, allowing visitors to immersively experience the splendor of this thousand-year-old temple.
🏯 Must-visit highlights
🌟 1. Glazed Pagoda (holographic restoration)
🔹 Features: Once one of the "Seven Wonders of the World"!
🔹 Highlights: The spectacular scene of the Liuli Tower is restored on site through holographic projection technology
The original Da Baoen Temple glazed tower was 78.2 meters high and decorated with glazed tiles. It shone brightly in the sun and was even described as the "Lighthouse of the East" by Europeans who came to China at that time! At the ruins today, through modern technology, visitors can witness the former glory of this ancient tower with their own eyes, as if traveling through time and space!
🛕 2. Millennium Underground Palace (Buddha’s skull bone relic collection)
🔹 Features: One of the most important sacred objects in Chinese Buddhism
🔹 Highlights: A large number of precious Buddhist relics have been unearthed, including the Buddha's skull relic
This underground palace shocked the world during the archaeological excavation in 2008 because it preserved a series of precious Buddhist relics. There is even a legend that the "Buddha's skull relic" stored inside came from Sakyamuni Buddha, attracting countless believers to come for pilgrimage🙏.
📜 3. Inscriptions written by the imperial family of the Ming Dynasty
🔹 Features: Witness the historical origins of Chengzu Zhu Di and Da Baoen Temple
🔹 Highlights: The stone tablet is engraved with the imperial edict of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty, which records the original intention of building the temple.
As a royal Buddhist temple, the history of Da Baoen Temple is closely related to Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty. There are steles inscribed with the calligraphy of the emperor of the Ming Dynasty in the scenic area, which make people feel as if they can feel the royal Buddhist culture of 600 years ago.
🔮 4. Glazed Tile and Tower Brick Museum
🔹 Features: Precious Ming Dynasty colored glaze craft exhibits
🔹 Highlights: The original pieces that once decorated the glazed pagoda, showcasing the royal architectural skills
Precious cultural relics such as Ming Dynasty glazed tiles and tower bricks unearthed from the ruins are displayed here. Through these historical relics, you can get a glimpse of the extraordinary skills of ancient craftsmen!
🌳 5. Night light show (recommended to visit at night)
🔹 Features: The Dabaoen Temple is brightly lit at night, full of Zen
🔹 Highlights: The projection show of the glazed tower and the surrounding Buddhist music create a full atmosphere
If you come here at night, you can enjoy the spectacular light show, especially the light and shadow projection of the glazed tower, which makes people feel as if they really see the ancient tower reappear in the world. It is definitely a shocking visual feast!
🎫 Tickets and tour suggestions
✅ Tickets:
• Adult ticket: 98 yuan
• Student ticket: 49 yuan (with student ID)
• Nanjing Citizens Special Ticket: Nanjing citizens can enjoy 50% discount every Friday
✅ Best time to visit:
• It is recommended to enter the park after 3 pm, visit the museum and underground palace first, and then enjoy the light show at night to experience the most complete visual effects!
✅ Visiting time:
• Standard tour: 2~3 hours
• In-depth tour: more than 4 hours
✅ Transportation:
🚇 Subway: Nanjing Metro Line 1, get off at Sanshan Street Station and walk for about 10 minutes
🚌 Bus: Take bus No. 26, 33, or 202 to "Da Baoen Temple Ruins Park Station"**
📌 Travel tips
🔹 Dress code: You need to remain solemn in the temple, wear simple and elegant clothes, and avoid making loud noises🙊.
🔹 Avoid the crowds: There are more people on weekends and holidays, so it is recommended to visit on weekdays or during opening hours.
🔹 Photography Tips: The Liuli Tower Light and Shadow Projection Show is the best spot for taking photos. It is recommended to bring a camera with a strong night photography function📸!
🔹 Recommended nearby places: You can arrange this trip on the same day as the Confucius Temple and Qinhuai River Night Cruise to experience a one-day tour with the most Jinling charm.
🌟 Conclusion
The Da Baoen Temple Ruins Park combines history, Buddhism, royal culture and modern technology, and is one of Nanjing's most representative cultural landmarks. Whether it is the stunning glazed pagoda light and shadow show, the thousand-year-old Buddha's skull relic, or the construction history of the Ming Dynasty royal family, they all make people linger. If you come to Nanjing, it is definitely worth a visit here to experience the profound heritage of this thousand-year-old temple! 🙏✨💰Per capita consumption:💰Per capita consumption: