Tanzhe Temple was founded in the first year of the Yongjia era during the Western Jin Dynasty (307 AD). The temple is named for its location near a dragon pool and its surrounding trees. A local saying reflects its historical significance: “Tanzhe Temple existed before Beijing was established.” The temple is backed by Baozhu Peak and is encircled by nine towering peaks in a horseshoe shape. These peaks block the cold winds from the northwest, creating a warm and moist microclimate that fosters lush vegetation and many ancient trees and rare flowers.
The temple’s halls are built on varying elevations, following the contours of the mountain, with the initial construction of the Forbidden City modeled after Tanzhe Temple. It is oriented north to south and is primarily divided into three main sections: central, east, and west. A central axis runs through the middle, with symmetrical layouts on both sides. The architectural forms include halls, pavilions, towers, dining rooms, verandas, gazebos, and altars, creating a diverse and intricate design. Outside the temple, there are many buildings and attractions such as the Upper and Lower Tower Courtyards, East and West Guanyin Caves, Anle Yanshou Hall, and the Dragon Pool. These features are spread out like stars around the moon, forming a rich and varied scenic area with numerous points of interest and diverse styles.
Travel Information about Tanzhe Temple
Tickets and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: 50 RMB
Opening Hours:
- Peak Season: 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM
- Off-Season: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Best Time to Visit
In April, TanzheTemple’s ancient magnolias bloom spectacularly, offering stunning views. October is also a beautiful time to visit, as the temple’s pavilions are surrounded by fiery, picturesque mountain forests, creating a fairy-tale ambiance.
Getting to the Scenic Area
Location: At the foothills of Tanzhe Mountain, Tanzhe Temple Town, Mentougou District.
By Bus: Take Line 1 of the subway to Apple Orchard Station, then transfer to Bus 931 at the west side bus stop. The final stop is Tanzhe Temple.
Tour Bus: During peak tourist seasons, there are special tourist buses to Tanzhe Temple every Saturday and Sunday from the Beijing Tourism Distribution Center at Tiananmen West.
Scenic Rating
- Cultural Significance: ★★★★
- Beauty: ★★★
- Special Features: ★★★★
- Romance: ★★★
- Leisure: ★★★
- Excitement: ★★
Useful Tips
- The temple provides free incense for visitors and does not encourage bringing your own, so there is no need to purchase incense outside.
- About a few kilometers southeast of Tanzhe Temple is Jie Tai Temple, which can also be visited. From the Tanzhe Temple bus stop in front of the temple, take bus 931 to Mentougou South Village Station, then transfer to bus 948 and get off at Jie Tai Temple Station.
Highlights of Tanzhe Temple
Mountain Gate and Ginkgo Trees
Standing in front of the temple, you’ll see the inscription “敕建岫云禅寺 Imperially Constructed Xiu Yun Zen Temple” written by Emperor Kangxi himself on the plaque above the central mountain gate. Entering the gate, you will find the Heavenly King Hall, with Maitreya Buddha in the center, Weituo at the back, and the Four Heavenly Kings surrounding them. Moving forward, you reach the Great Hero Hall, which houses Shakyamuni Buddha. Further ahead are two massive ginkgo trees, known as the “Emperor Tree” and the “Consort Tree.”
The Emperor Tree is said to symbolize the changing of dynasties: whenever a new emperor ascends the throne, a new branch grows from the tree’s roots, quickly merging with the trunk. Conversely, when an emperor dies, a large branch falls from the tree, adding an air of mystique to its presence.
Related Details:
- These two ginkgo trees are believed to have been planted during the Tang Dynasty’s Zhenguan period. The eastern tree, called the “Emperor Tree,” indeed exudes a commanding presence. The western tree was originally intended to be a female tree to accompany the male tree, but it turned out to be another male tree, hence it is named the “Consort Tree.”
- Tanzhe Temple is a popular destination for local residents during the spring. The tradition of “visiting Buddha at Tanzhe Temple in April” is a customary practice in Beijing. Every year, the temple hosts grand Buddhist events such as the “Bathing Buddha Ceremony,” “Lotus Pond Festival,” and “Longhua Holy Meeting.” These events attract monks and devout worshippers from various places, creating a lively and festive atmosphere.
- In ancient times, there were several traditional pilgrimage routes to offer incense, including Lutan Ancient Road, Pangtan Ancient Road, Xintan Ancient Road, Mentan Ancient Road, and Tanwang Ancient Road. Some of these routes have been well-preserved. Among them, the ancient incense path from Pingyuan Village to Tanzhe Temple is paved with stone slabs and is worth a visit.
Pagoda Forest, Pilu Pavilion, and Mahavira Hall
In front of the temple lies the Pagoda Forest, divided into the Upper and Lower Pagoda Courtyards. This forest contains over seventy Buddhist pagodas from various dynasties, showcasing diverse architectural styles. The pagodas, weathered over centuries, display a range of colors including red, purple, brown, yellow, white, and gray, creating a venerable and ancient appearance. The Lower Pagoda Courtyard houses the tombs of notable monks from the Jin, Yuan, and Ming dynasties, with pagoda styles including stone stelae pagodas, square single-story pagodas, tiled pagodas with multiple eaves, and bowl-shaped Tibetan stone pagodas. The oldest pagoda is the Haiyun Zen Master’s Pagoda in the Lower Courtyard, which has stood for over 800 years.
At Pilu Pavilion, there is a white pagoda among the two halls. Though not as large as the one in Beihai, it is one of the six white pagodas in Beijing. From Pilu Pavilion, you can proceed to the Guanyin Hall and the Stone Fish. Legend has it that the Stone Fish was bestowed upon Tanzhe Temple by the Jade Emperor, endowing it with spiritual powers. Touching the Stone Fish is believed to ensure recovery from illnesses.
In the main hall, Mahavira Hall, each end of the ridge has a giant green glazed chiwen (mythical beast) from the Yuan Dynasty, adorned with golden chains. It is said that when Emperor Kangxi first visited Tanzhe Temple, he saw the chiwen seemingly poised to fly away. He ordered the creation of golden chains to secure it and inserted a sword. Today, the “gold-plated sword light and chiwen belt” is a gift from Emperor Kangxi.
Related Details:
- On the east side of the Mahavira Hall within the temple complex is a Ming and Qing dynasty-style tea house, connected to the palace courtyard. The tea house offers a serene and elegant setting where visitors can enjoy tea while listening to the temple’s ancient bell sounds and observing the temple’s incense offerings.
- Nearby, there is Zhaojiatai Folk Village, where visitors can taste traditional farmhouse meals, engage in fruit picking, and learn local crafts such as weaving, embroidery, and purple stone carving from the villagers. In the evening, there are also bonfire parties.
Accommodation and Dining
Dining: The vegetarian meals at Tanzhe Temple are renowned. You can enjoy these dishes at Jiafu Hotel, located on the west side of the temple.
Jiafu Hotel:
- East Side: The An Dong Tang is a traditional courtyard-style building with tall, shade-providing pine and cypress trees. It offers 11 standard rooms.
- West Side: This building is designed in an antique style and features 25 rooms, including 4 suites, with a total of 50 beds. It also has a restaurant that can accommodate 200 diners at once.
Classic Courtyard-style Rooms:
- Xinggong Courtyard: Offers 15 beds and two deluxe conference rooms.
- Dabeitan: Has 20 beds.
- Lishu Courtyard: Provides 22 beds.
- Southeast Courtyard: Located outside the temple, offering 4 beds.