[2025 Xi'an Attraction] Travel Guide for Wolong Temple (Updated Mar)

Open the door to another time and space, over 1,800 years old, and encounter Wolong Chan Temple, a key Buddhist temple in the Han region. Compared to the bustling crowds of Guangren Temple, Wolong Chan Temple is truly a tranquil place. Look up to the clear sky; before your eyes are gentle cats who understand the peace of time; in your ears are the joyful chirping of birds; on the ground are lush flowers and plants; in the main hall are the solemn Buddhas... Every life in the temple is full of vigorous vitality. How can this not bring peace of mind? Wolong Chan Temple was founded during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han. During the Sui Dynasty, it was called "Fuyin Chan Monastery." In the Tang Dynasty, it was also called "Guanyin Temple" because it housed a Guanyin statue painted by Wu Daozi. The original stele of Wu Daozi's Guanyin painting is in the Beilin Museum, and the one in the temple is a replica. During the Xian Tong and Qian Fu periods of Emperor Yi Zong and Emperor Xi Zong of Tang, stone Dharani Sutra pillars were erected in the temple. In the twenty-sixth year of the reign of Emperor Guangxu, during the Boxer Rebellion, when Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu took refuge in Xi'an, Monk Deqing accompanied them to Wolong Temple to worship Buddha. Empress Dowager Cixi brought new prosperity to Wolong Temple. She donated one thousand taels of silver to renovate the temple halls and built a magnificent stone archway. Cixi also personally inscribed plaques with "Ciyun Beiri" and "Sancheng Dieyao" and bestowed them upon the temple, and inscribed the name "Imperially Established Shifang Wolong Chan Monastery" for the mountain gate. Emperor Guangxu inscribed a plaque with "Huanxidi" for the Hall of Heavenly Kings. These grand gestures added to the glory of Wolong Temple. At the same time, lamas and princes from Tibet and Mongolia traveled thousands of miles to send various genuine artifacts and Buddha statues, many of which were decreed to be placed in Wolong Temple for worship. The temple houses a large number of small Buddha statues. 📌TIPS： 📍Location: Search for "Wolong Chan Temple" on your navigation app. 💰Tickets: Free ⏰️Opening hours: 8:30—17:00 ❇️Visit duration: 1–2 hrs 💟Nearby: 💠Beilin Park (8-minute walk south, visit duration: 1–2 hrs), can be visited together. 💠Xi'an City Wall (entrance next to Beilin Park, tickets: ¥45/person), visit duration: 1–2 hrs 💠Yongning Gate (any entrance to the Xi'an City Wall can be used with one ticket, ¥45/person, visit duration: 1 hr) 💠Xiangzi Temple (free, visit duration: 0.5–1 hr) 💠Bell Tower (visit duration: 1 hr) 💠Drum Tower (visit duration: 1 hr) 💠Muslim Street (free, for strolling and eating, visit duration: 1–2 hrs). The main street of Muslim Street has Gao's Courtyard (Ming and Qing Dynasty brick and wood structure, tickets: ¥15/person, ¥14.91/person on Trip.com, shadow puppet shows are performed in the courtyard, combined tickets available, ¥29.95/person for tickets + shadow puppet show on Trip.com) 🟣️One-day tour route recommendation: (Start) Wolong Chan Temple—Beilin Park—Xi'an City Wall—Yongning Gate—Xiangzi Temple—Bell Tower—Drum Tower—Muslim Street (End)

|A sacred place hidden in the bustling city. Wolong Temple was built during the reign of Emperor Ling of the Han Dynasty and was called "Fuying Temple" during the Sui Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, it was also called "Guanyin Temple" because it preserved a painting of Guanyin by Wu Daozi. In the early Song Dynasty, the eminent monk Huiguo became the abbot of the temple. He lay down all day long, so people called him the Wolong Monk. During the reign of Emperor Taizong of the Song Dynasty, the temple was renamed "Wolong Temple." The temple is home to towering ancient trees, a collection of cultural relics, and a forest of steles. It preserves precious cultural relics such as the "Footprint Stele," the "Guanyin Stele" painted by Wu Daozi in the Tang Dynasty, the statues of Master Damo and the Eighteen Arhats, and the Tianshu Meteorite. 📍Address: No. 5 Kaitong West Lane, Bailin Subdistrict, Beilin District 🕰Opening hours: 8:30–17:00 (open all day from Monday to Sunday) 🎫Tickets: Free admission, no reservation required ☀Transportation Self-driving: Navigate to "Wolong Temple." There is a ground parking lot opposite the temple. Subway: Take Line 4 or 6 to Dacha City Station, then walk 700 meters. Bus: Take Bus 258, 309, etc. to Baishulin Station.

Today Xi'an welcomed the first snow of this year! The whole city suddenly became different, filled with a different atmosphere. I particularly like Xi'an in winter. The red walls and white snow under the Big Wild Goose Pagoda and the mist on the city walls make me feel like I have returned to the "Chang'an City" of the past... The Wolong Temple outside the Wenchang Gate of the Xi'an city wall is also an excellent scenery today. Wolong Temple was founded during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han Dynasty and has a history of more than 1,800 years. It was called "Fuying Zen Temple" during the Sui Dynasty and "Guanyin Temple" during the Tang Dynasty. In the early Song Dynasty, there was an eminent monk named Huiguo who became the abbot of the temple. He lay in bed all day and was called "Wolong Monk". It was renamed "Wolong Temple" during the reign of Emperor Taizong of Song. Today, Wolong Temple is divided into three courtyards: the Central Courtyard, the East Courtyard and the West Courtyard. There is also the most famous stele in the temple, the Guanyin stele painted by Wu Daozi in the Tang Dynasty, which is very valuable! The temple is very quiet. Even though there are a constant stream of tourists, everyone remains quiet and tries not to disturb the practicing masters. You can also appreciate the aesthetics of ancient architecture in Wolong Temple, with bird-scare bells, drum stones, roof tiles, brackets, rain chains, etc. hanging under the eaves. After seeing them, you can only sigh that the aesthetic taste of the ancients is so shocking, and that the romance of ancient Chinese architecture is unique to the Chinese people.

4 ancient flower viewing spots in ancient temples known only to people in Xi’an Citywalk or ride for a day under the city wall Collect this spring flower chasing map and temple tour route to take you to see the spring in the ancient temple under the Xi'an city wall ~ When the thousand-year-old/hundred-year-old temple meets the spring flowers The collision of history and new life really fills the atmosphere~ Tour route: Guangren Temple-Wolong Temple-Wangji Temple-Baxian Temple How to play: citywalk or riding (there are subways near the temple, not far from each other, and riding is also very convenient) Guangren Temple(p2-p4) The red wall magnolia under the city wall is popular in the circle of friends. It is a cultural and historical blockbuster. You can also receive various peripherals when entering the temple. The only drawback is that there are many people and there will be fewer people if you go early in the morning. Opening hours: 8:00-17:30 Wolong Zen Temple (p5-p8) A quiet thousand-year-old temple under the city wall Deep and quiet, the magnolia flowers in the temple are also in bloom. The magnolia flowers in the sun are really stunning with the scripture walls and the architectural silhouette of the ancient temple. It’s really nice to take photos in Hanfu. There aren’t many people there, and there are also cherry blossoms and peonies after a while~ Opening hours: 8:30-17:00 (6:30-17:00 on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month) Wangji Temple(p9-p12) The secret and low-key ancient temple outside the east gate It was built by Princess Taiping to pray for her mother Wu Zetian. Because few people know about it and it is not famous among the Internet. The magnolia flowers in the temple are really sparse and beautiful. There are also two peacocks and cute cats. Opening hours: 7:30-16:30 (5:00-16:30 on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar month) Baxian Temple (p13-p16) It’s about a 5-minute walk from Wangji Temple. The magnolia flowers in Baxian Temple are also in full bloom. Compared to temples and Taoist temples, it feels different. There are many lazy cats in the yard. Opening hours: 8:00-16:45 Turn down these temples Basically a day has passed Perfect for a nice spring weekend Cycling or citywalking for a whole day, encounter the spring and scenery of the ancient city

Chang'an Snow❄️The thousand-year-old temple under the city wall is seriously underestimated Once the snow in Chang'an falls, Talking about daily life around the fire, washing hands and burning incense Yesterday, it snowed in Xi'an, and it was a cold winter ❄️ Slow down life The sky is cold at the end of the year, and the silver-clad snow sets off the blue bricks, green tiles and red walls. The ancient charm of the temple complements each other Listening to the snow in the Buddhist temple, I feel a sense of Zen. I promise you a winter romance with the snow in Chang'an Feel the tranquility of "the bamboo path leads to a secluded place, and the Zen room is full of flowers and trees" here This Buddhist temple is known as the "No. 1 Zen Temple in Northwest China". Although it is only a hundred meters away from the famous Beilin Museum But even local people in Xi'an rarely visit it. This thousand-year-old temple hidden in the bustling city is a low-key and secluded place. Wolong Temple located inside the Wenchang Gate of the Xi'an City Wall It was first built during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han [168-189]. During the Sui Dynasty, it was called "Fuying Zen Temple" It is more than 1800 years ago The temple in the Tang Dynasty preserved The Guanyin statue of Wu Daozi, the "painting saint", is also known as the "Guanyin Temple". During the reign of Emperor Taizong of Song Dynasty, the monk Wolong became the abbot of the temple and stayed in bed all day. Therefore, it was renamed Wolong Temple The temple has five courtyards, towering ancient trees and a beautiful and quiet environment. The temple is full of steles and cultural relics There is an exquisitely shaped bronze Netherworld Bell. The world-renowned Song Dynasty sand-printed Tripitaka The precious Dingmao Buddha Footprint Monument, It seems to tell the story of the thousand-year-old temple. A pure land, three pillars of incense The incense is prosperous and the Zen is everywhere Feel the shock and historical heritage of the thousand-year-old temple under the city wall Experience the tranquility of Wolong Temple, a pure land of paradise 🚇Get off at Zhonglou Station or Yongningmen Station on Line 2 and walk for about 15 minutes to arrive. (Kaitong West Lane in Wenchang Gate) 🚌Choose a route and get off at "Wenchangmen" or "Baishulin" station ✅Free tickets, no reservation required 🗓️08:30-17:00 (06:00-17:00 on the first and fifteenth day of the lunar calendar) 📝Tips 1️⃣ There are inscriptions and Buddhist scriptures from various dynasties in the temple, which can be visited; 2️⃣ You can burn incense and pray in the temple. Each person can get three incense sticks for free at the temple entrance. 3️⃣ Wolong Temple is very close to the Forest of Steles Museum and Wenchang Gate, which can be reached in about 3 minutes on foot. You can also take a walking tour of Sanxue Street, Shuyuan Gate, and South Gate Citywalk; 4️⃣ It is not far from Xiangzi Temple, Xiangzi Temple Street, Defu Lane, and Zhonglou Community, so you can also take a walk along the way Wolong Temple

🐉Xi'an Wolong Zen Temple, founded during the reign of Emperor Ling of Han, has a history of over 1800 years. Originally named Fuying Temple, it was also known as Guanyin Temple during the Tang Dynasty due to the Guanyin portrait by Wu Daozi preserved in the temple. In the early Song Dynasty, there was a monk named Huiguo who often lay down like a dragon, hence people called him the 'Sleeping Dragon Monk', and later the temple was renamed 'Wolong Temple'. There are many stone steles from the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties in the temple, and because the inscriptions on the steles are like flowers, they are called 'flowering steles'. 🍂Entering Wolong Zen Temple is quite a surprise. Because we didn't do much research for this trip to Xi'an, after eating the biangbiang noodles recommended by the homestay, we strolled along the city wall and accidentally saw the sign saying 'Wolong Zen Temple', so we happily entered. 🏠As soon as we entered the mountain gate, the temple was already full of autumn colors. The golden ginkgo trees were particularly brilliant under the afternoon sun, and a few gray pigeons were either dozing in the trees or strolling leisurely among the fallen ginkgo leaves. Occasionally, monks or believers would pass by without fear, making the whole courtyard extraordinarily peaceful. 🗺️Tour guide: 🎫No ticket required, you can get three sticks of incense at the entrance 📍Address: No. 66, Kaitong West Lane, Beilin District, Xi'an 🚗Transportation: Walk 900m from Zhonglou Station of the subway, or take a bus to Wenchangmen Station and walk for 5 minutes. 🧭Tour suggestions: 1⃣️Autumn colors. The autumn colors in Xi'an probably arrive at the end of October. At present, the ginkgo trees are not yellow, but the leisurely comfort under the afternoon sun is incomparable to other temples. 2⃣️We didn't see the Guanyin statue when we were there, but the flowering stele is still there, you can visit it. 3⃣️Around four in the afternoon, monks will pray and ring the bell around the temple, don't miss it if you love photography.