Tanzhesi Is Beijing Area's Oldest Temple

Buddhist Site Is Located in Mountains West of Chinese Capital

Jul 20, 2009

Tanzhe Temple is located in the Western Hills above Beijing. As one of the oldest temples in the area, this little visited site blends several architectural styles.

Tanzhesi (si is temple in Mandarin) dates back to the third century. It has been added on to over the years by various dynasties, and today is one of Beijing’s largest temple grounds. It is located about 30 miles west of Beijing over a twisty, winding mountain road which passes through old villages. In the spring, the hills are ablaze with fruit blossoms. On a clear day, the panoramic views of Beijing below are stunning.

Kublai Khan's Daughter Was Nun at Tanzhe Temple

Tanzhe translates as “Dragon Pool and mulberry tree temple” in Mandarin. Mulberry trees abound throughout the area. The architecture is mainly Ming and Qing dynasty styles. There are three main parts to the temple: the Hall of Abstinence, Ordination Altar and Hall to GuanYin. This last hall is associated with a daughter of Kublai Khan who entered a nunnery here in the 13th century. There are stones inside this hall which bear indentions from her kneeling to pray to GuanYin, the goddess of Mercy.

Tanzhe Temple Was Most Important in China at One Time

Tanzhe was said to be the most important temple in China at one time, and may also have served as the model for the layout of the Forbidden City in central Beijing. A sign at the entrance proclaims, "First there was Tanzhe and then there was Beijing."

But all was not serious at Tanzhe. For example, there’s the Floating Cups Pavilion. A small winding channel, said to be shaped like a dragon’s tail, was carved into a slab of marble placed on the ground. This channel was filled with water; small cups containing wine were floated on the channel. When the cup ended its journey, the person nearest to it had to drink the wine.

Tanzhe Temple Offers Peace and Quiet to Visitors

Tanzhe exudes serenity and peace. Tall, graveful trees fill the courtyard. Two gingko trees, called the Emperor and Empress, still grow after being planted more than a thousand years ago.

Tanzhe Temple doesn’t draw the hordes of foreign tourists that temples in Beijing proper, such as Yonghegong Lama Temple and the Temple of Heaven, do. There are mostly Chinese tourists and not too many of them, either. Tanzhe Temple makes a good day from from Beijing. But it can be difficult to get to, involving both subway and bus rides. Going by public transportation is itme-consuming and tiring, and not really recommended for foreign travelers who do not know a few words in Mandarin. For those who want to take public transportation, ride the east-west subway line (Line 1) to PingGuoYuan, then transfer to bus no. 931 for the one-hour trip.

After Seeing Tanzhe, Continue on to Peking Man Site

The best way to get there is to hire a car and driver for the day. After touring Tanzhe, visitors can continue on to Jie Tai temple, another really old temple about 10 kilometers from Tanzhe, or to Zhoukoudian, where Peking Man was discovered, before looping back to Beijing.

Tanzhe Temple is open daily, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the summer and 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the winter. Admission is 35 yuan ($5.12).

The copyright of the article Tanzhesi Is Beijing Area's Oldest Temple in China Travel is owned by Cheryl Probst. Permission to republish Tanzhesi Is Beijing Area's Oldest Temple in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.