Five Pagoda Temple (Wuta Si)

Situated to the north of Beijing Zoo in Haidian District of Beijing, the Five-Pagoda Temple is an ideal place to appreciate the splendid history of Buddhism and architecture in China as well as to enjoy the pleasant scene and special tranquility of the temple. It is a respite from crowded tourist attractions in Beijing.

A former Buddhist monastery, the Five Pagoda Temple was completed 1473 during the reign of Emperor Chengzu of the Ming Dynasty. Legend has it that an Indian monk visited the emperor and presented him with five beautiful statues of Buddha and a replica of a jeweled pagoda in India. Inspired by the beauty of these presents, the emperor ordered the construction of five identical pagodas facing the lovely Long River and the west hills behind them. Since their construction the pagodas have been renovated several times and in 1982 they were finally opened to the public.

The beauty of the Five Pagoda Temple lies in its architecture. No doubt the design was inspired by the Diamond Pagoda throne of India, but it is no mere copy. The temple is built on similar plans to the Indian temple but the arch at the entry and the carvings are typical of Chinese architecture. The five pagodas blend Chinese traditional art with the Indian theme in a unique and beautiful way.

The temple can be divided into two parts: the 25 square foot six level base and the five brick and bluestone buildings. The lowest level of the base is 5' 10" and each of the other five levels is carved all over with images Buddha and related signs. Four of the  pagodas are constructed on the four corners of the base while fifth and largest stands in the center. The four corner Pagodas have 11 levels each while the center one has 13. All five pagodas are carved with ancient Buddhist forms, including various designs of the Bodhi tree under which Buddha had attained enlightenment. There are Sanskrit scriptures all around the pagodas as well as the base on which they stand. The southern wall of the center Pagoda has Buddha's feet carved on it to signify that the spirit of Buddha is omnipresent.

Aside from it's own attraction, the Five Pagoda Temple also houses the Beijing Art Museum of Stone Carvings. It has over 2000 pieces of traditional stone carvings on display.The temple complex, with the diamond throne pagoda as its essence, is an outstanding accomplishment of Buddhist art. The carvings in Sanskrit also provide priceless material for research of the ancient Indian language and Tibetan Buddhism. Today, bearing a history of over 500 years, the Five-Pagoda Temple is not only a solemn religious relic, but also the location of the Beijing Art Museum of Stone Carvings which displays more than 2000 pieces of stone artworks for tourists.

The Five Pagoda Temple is tranquil. Any visitor to the temple immediately feels a sense of calm and peace. In today's highly commercialized world the Five Pagoda Temple stands apart. If you like peace and tranquility and are fed up with visiting crowded tourist places, the Five Pagoda Temple, just north of the Beijing Zoo, is an ideal place for you. It's easy to get to, either by cab or by bus (the no. 1 goes straight there).

Admission Fee:	CNY 20
Opening Hours:	09:00-16:00 (Except Monday)
Bus Route:	Bus No. 320, 332, 717, 941,601, 612, 27 Trolleybus No. 102, 103, 105 and 111