ChineseArchitecture--Monasteries and Pagodas
Buddhism came to China during the Eastern or Later Han period. The oldest monastery (siyuan ) on Chinese ground is the White Horse Monastery (Baimasi ) in Luoyang. The  monastery is not only a place for praying, but also houses - like European monasteries during the Middle Age - dwelling quarters for monks, schools, libraries containing the sutras or holy scriptures of Buddhism, and farm buildings because most monasteries were self-subsistent although believers granted donations to the monks; but the monastery actually had to use these donations not only to built up Buddha statues (Foxiang ) or pagodas (ta , in old times transscribes as futu ), but also to feed the poor, like Christian monasteries. After Buddhism has become a prevalent religion among all social classes of the Chinese people, the Daoist communities also organized themselves in monasteries.
The influence of Hinduism on Buddhism is very deep and can be seen in many aspects of Buddhist thought. One sphere is the cosmic image of Buddhism that believes the center of the cosm being built by a huge mountain called Meru. Mount Kailash in Tibet is thought to be this Mount Meru, the 6714 m high Kangrinboqe. To adopt this cosmic image, some  Hinduist rulers in South East Asia (Ankor Vat) saw their temple as center of their own world, the main hall standing on a real or artificial hill. The pagoda can also be seen as a symbol for Mount Meru, the center of the world. Additionally, Mount Meru symbolizes the male phallus (or Sanskrit: lingam), and pagodas therefore have a corresponding shape. By the way, the word "pagoda" derives from the Sanskrit word bhagavat (cf. the book Bhagavatgita) "holy".
The typical Chinese pagoda like we know it has surfacially nothing in common with the old Indian stupa and seems to be very different from the buildings of southern Theravada Buddhism in Sri Lanka (former Ceylon; chedi), Myanmar (former Burma), Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (all three countries adopting the Khmer style prang pagoda). But if we have a nearer look at the shapes and appearances of the Chinese pagodas in earlier ages, we can find traces that can lead back to the Indian origin also of the typical octogonal and straight Chinese pagoda with the curved roofs. The painting to the left reflects a pagoda of Bodhgaya, an important location of Buddhist worship in India, by which we can see some typical features of a pagoda or stupa: The tower is multi-storied and more or less decorated on the surface and tapers from bottom to top. The top is crowned with something that looks like a flower bud, in Buddhism an expression for the lotus flower. In other cases, the construction at the top is a honorific umbrella with up to ten layers. Around the main tower we find small miniature pagodas, ranging from four to eight, depending on the shape of the whole pagoda complex. Most pagodas contain relics of the Buddha or at least a statue of the Enlightened. The inside of a pagoda may be a dome-like room or can be climbed by stairs to take care for the decorations or the jewels that are fixed atop of the lotus flower bud. Another example of Non-Chinese Buddhist architecture is the picture to the right, a prang of Ayutthaya (Ayodhya), an old capital of Thailand (former Siam).
The Liuhe Pagoda, or Six Harmonies Pagoda, in Hangzhou, 60 m (196 ft) in height, erected in 1156 and fully constructed in 1165 AD.The architecture of the Song Dynasty (960–1279) was based upon the accomplishments of its predecessors, much like every subsequent dynastic period of China. The hallmarks of Chinese architecture during the Song period were its towering Buddhist pagodas, enormous stone and wooden bridges, its lavish tombs, and palatial architecture. Although literary works on architecture existed beforehand, during the Song Dynasty literature on architecture blossomed into maturity and held a greater professional outlook, described dimensions and working materials in a concise manner, and overall had a greater style of organization than previous works. Architecture in Song artwork and illustrations in published books showing building diagrams also aid modern historians in understanding all the nuances of architecture originating from the Song period.
The oldest pagoda still intact on Chinese soil is the pagoda of Songyue Monastery of Dengfeng /Henan at the foothills of the sacred mountain Songshan . It stands near the famous Shaolin Monastery where monks of the Chan school developed gongfu fighting for mental training. The brick pagoda is 41 m high and was erected in 523 under the patronate of the Northern Wei rulers. While the lower parts of the round pagoda are built of twelve flat surfaces symbolizing the twelve causes of sin, the upper part is octongonal and constructed in the  shape of 15 steps. The top is crowned by a bud that once was adorned with jewels.
Not every monastery had enough wealth to built such a huge pagoda. A small octogonal pagoda topped by nine pagodas en miniature from the Tang Dynasty can be found at Lingjiu Mountain near the town Liubu at Licheng /Shandong. The Monastery is called after the pagoda - Nine Pagoda Monastery (Jiutasi ).
When the city of Chang'an (modern Xi'an /Shaanxi) was the capital of Tang Dynasty, many emperors and especially  empresses worshipped the Buddha and had built some huge pagodas in the state protected monasteries. Two of the Tang Dynasty pagodas are still standing. They are called the Great and Small Wild Goose Pagoda. The 64 m high Great Wild Goose Pagoda (Dayanta ) was built in 652 in Cien Monastery , the Small Wild Goose Pagoda (Xiaoyanta ; to the right) was erected in 709 in Jianfu Monastery . The Great Wild Goose Pagoda with its step or pyramid shape once served as a treasury for the sutras the monk Xuanzang had brought from India. The Cien Monastery was the most important location of Mahayana Buddhism during Tang Dynasty, even monks from Japan and Korea came here to study Buddhism. The Small Wild Goose pagode has still the multi-storied curved shapes of the Indian pagoda. It is only 43 m tall because the two upper stories have collapsed.
The southern realm of Dali (region of modern Yunnan) was inhabited by Non-Chinese  people that are relatives to the modern Thai and Lao peoples. But their religion was clearly influenced by the northern Mahayana Buddhist architecture. The three pagodas were built between the 7th and 10th century and gave the monastery its name: Santasi "Three Pagoda Monastery" . The tallest pagoda, impressive 69 m high, has 18 stories and has a square basis, reducing the size gradually to the top. The other two pagodas are octogonal and only 43 m tall (on the picture only one can be seen). Very well preserved, these pagodas can give an impression how the Small Wild Goose Pagoda may have looked when still in use. On the top, we can see the golden construction symbolizing the lotus bud that contains jewels. By the way, pagodas in Myanmar (former Burma) are crowned with the same symbols of Buddhism - although the shape of Burmese pagodas is very different. 
The timber construction of the pagoda of a small monastery in Yingxian /Shanxi called Fogong Monastery is the oldest pagoda that has the typical shape of Chinese pagodas like we know them. It has five stories and is shaped octogonally. The 67 m tall timber pagoda called "Shakya Timber Pagoda" (Shijia muta ) was built in 1056 during the reign of the Khitan-Liao Dynasty . Unlike the former brick pagodas, every storey has a gallery outside from which the visitor has a brilliant view of monastery and landscape.
Also built during the reign of Liao and Jin dynasties in north China, the brick Flower Pagoda (Huata ) of Qinghua Monastery near Laishui /Hebei has the typical lingam shape of Indian stupas. The lower octogonal part once contained a Buddha statue, the upper dome-like part is decorated on the outside with blind windows. In every window sat a small Buddha statue symbolizing the manifold appearances of the Enlightened.
During Song Dynasty when Kaifeng /Henan served as imperial capital, there was also the need for religious support for the inhabitants of the capital. The so-called Iron Pagoda (Tieta ) of the state protected Youguo Monastery is coated with brown colored tiles, giving the slim building its name. It is 56 m high and has eleven stories upon the basic entrance room. The lotus jewel construction on the top has been destroyed.
The picture to the right shows the typical Chinese pagoda of  our imagination. It is shaped octogonally, painted yellow like the robes of the monks, and has widely curved roofs round each storey, that are almost spiked at the corner of the eight surfaces. The lotus jewel construction on the top is very tall and fastened by iron ropes. This pagoda can be seen in Longhua Monastery south of Shanghai and was erected during the Song Dynasty, but reconstructed during Qing. Similar pagodas can be seen all over the country, e. g. Jiming Monastery in Nanjing /Jiangsu and Liurong Monastery in Guangzhou /Guangdong.
This 47 m tall pagoda in Suzhou /Jiangsu was erected during late Five Dynasties and  early Song in Yunyan Monastery on a hill called Tiger Mountain . Although built of brick stones, parts of it imitate wood construction. The outer surface of the seven storeys is built quite smooth. The blind windows on the outside once contained Buddha or Bodhisattva statues. Yunyan Monastery  has long been devastated, and only the pagoda is left. Like the tower of Pisa in Italy, the Tiger Hill Pagoda is pending more than 2 m from the center of gravity.
Some monasteries have erected double pagodas, like the two pagodas with huge top construction of the Luohan Court in Suzhou. Another example for a double pagoda is Kaiyuan Monastery in Quanzhou /Fujian (no picture). 
Not every pagoda can be climed like the former examples. The iron pagoda of Yuquan  Monastery in Dangyang /Hubei, is slightly pending over its center of gravity (total left).
How narrow the interior of a pagoda is, can be seen at the pagoda of Kaiyuan Monastery inZheng Ding xian/Hebei (left; 1st half 11th cent.). A quarter of the whole tower has been broken off that we can see the "intestines" of the 11 storeys. With 84 m, it is the highest building of Chinese architecture.
An overview of a Buddhist monastery's building complex gives the right airview picture of Jueshan Monastery at Lingqiu /Shanxi. While the multi-storied pagoda stands at the southern end of the complex, dwelling quarters, schools and praying halls are enclosed by a wall. The roofs of these buildings are extremely curved and widely overlap the basis of the actual building.
 In the west and north of China, monasteries are often not incorporated into the scene of a city but stand alone in the wilderness. In Shaanxi, near Datong, a Pending Monastery (Xuankongsi ) can be seen where the monks built their dwelling quarters into a mountain wall. Other examples for the solitary monasteries are Yungang near Datong/Shanxi, Maijishan near Tianshui /Gansu, Bingling Monastery near Lanzhou /Gansu, the grotto monastery Mogaoku at Dunhuang /Gansu, and Fengxian Monastery with the Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang /Henan.
The picture to the right is an example of a very unknown monastery called Qinglian Monastery that lies in a wild montain landscape near Jincheng /Shanxi. The ruins of this monastery still show the main gate, the wall enclosure and the main prayer hall with a roof that has been reconstructed.
 Tibet is the center of a special kind of Buddhism, the Lamaism. The Lama as spiritual head of Tibetian Buddhism is at the same time worldly governor of Tibet. Before the Dalai Lama had to leave Tibet, he resided at the Potala Palace (Chinese: Budalagong) that is erected on the back of a hill north of the city of Lhasa (Chinese: Lasa).
Another important monastery of Tibet is Shigatse or Xigaze (Chinese: Rikaze) where the Panchen Lama resided in the Tashilunpho Monastery (chin. Zhashilunbusi) with its golden roofs.
The pagodas of Tibet are much smaller than that of China and are called cherten. Their shape resembles much more the Indian type chedi and has a globe-like base with a tall, almost phallic lotus jewel construction.
 200A very extraordinary pagoda in China is the Pagoda of the Diamond Cutter Throne in Dazhenjue Monastery(Wuta Si) in Beijing. It is erected in the style of an Indian Bihar pagoda that symbolized the dwelling site of the Enlightened in Xumi Mountain (Mount Sumeru or Meru in Hindoo mythology). The square platform is filled up with five almost equally tall pagodas and a porcelain pavillion. This complex was erected in 1473 when the Ming emperors had diplomats and representants of every subject people of their empire resided at Beijing.
How huge the honorific umbrella or lotus jewel construction of the top of a pagoda is can  be seen at the relics of the gigant pagoda of Todaiji in Nara /Japan (right picture). The white line in the lower left part of the picture gives the average size of a person.
Buddhist architecture is very famous for the pagodas that were built of brick stones that could survive time and erosion. But original wooden buildings are very rare, and most of them can only be seen if they were reconstructed. Most reconstructions were undertaken during Ming and Qing dynasties. A prayer hall that has been preserved in its original Tang Dynasty shape is the main hall of Nanchan Monastery near the Buddhist mountain Wutaishan in Shanxi. Japanese pilgrims were impressed by the Chinese Buddhist architecture, and there is no wonder that Japanese Buddhist halls and pagodas adapted the style of Tang Dynasty architecture, like the huge Todaiji Temple in Nara with its two storey roof (picture to the right).
While many of China's mountains have become revered over history, four in particular are believed especially sacred. Mountains are where heaven and earth touch and in this vein, Chinese believe that bodhisatvas, or Buddhist disciples who have reached nirvana but come back to earth to help mortals on their own paths to enlightenment, dwell inThe five sacred mountains of Chinese Buddhism are Wutaishan near Datong /Shanxi, Jiuhuashan near Tongling /Anhui (not far from the Huangshan Mountain range, famous for its landscape), Putuoshan , an island before the cost of Ningbo /Zhejiang and Emeishan in Sichuan.
The most important Buddhist monasteries of China are:
Beijing:
Guangji Monastery (Jin), stores many old Tang sutras
Baita Monastery (Liao) in Tibetian style, with a tall white pagoda
Wuta Monastery (Ming), the only relic is the five pagoda stupa
Dazhong Monastery (Song), famous for the huge, 46 tons heavy bronze bell
Yonghegong , a Lama temple from early Qing
Fayuan Monastery (Tang), the oldest Buddhist temple of Beijing
Biyun Monyastery (Yuan), also called Dazhenjue Monastery, with an extraordinary pagoda, see above
Wofo Monastery , housing a 5 m long reclining Buddha
Badachu "The Eight Extraordinary Places", with eight different Buddhist monasteries
Tanzhe and Jietaisi Monasteries
Tianjin:
Dabeiyuan Monastery (late Ming)
Dule Monastery (Song) and other small complexes in Jixian County
Shanghai:
Longhua Monastery (Song)
Jing'an Monastery (Song); the whole building complex was moved from its old place near Suzhou River some miles to the south. The library houses old Song time writings.
Yufo Monastery (late Qing), housing two huge jade Buddhas
A square pagoda (Fangta ) can be seen in the ruins of a monastery in Songjiang .
Chongqing
Near the city of Dazu , we find two places of Buddhist grottoes: the Beishan Grottoes , and the Baodingshan Grottoes .
Anhui Province:
among the monasteries of the Jiuhuashan Mountain are two main complexes, the Huacheng and the Qiyuan Monasteries from the Tang resp. Qing Dynasties.
Fujian Province:
the capital Fuzhou houses some monasteries, like the Baita Monastery with a white pagoda (Tang), Hualin Monastery (Tang to Song), Yongquan Monastery (Song) on the Gushan Mountain , Chongfu Monastery (late Qing), Lingyuan Monastery on the Beifeng Mountain , and the Luoxing Pagoda .
One of the largest temple complexes of China is Kaiyuan Monastery (Tang) in Quanzhou with its double pagoda (Shuangta )
Longshan Monastery in Anhai is famous for a 4 m tall wooden sculpture of a thousand arms Bodhisattva
the southern city of Xiamen has a temple called Nan Putuo Monastery (Tang) housing the triad of Buddhas of the past, present and future.
Gansu Province:
probably the most famous and important place of Buddhism in China are the Mogao Grottoes near Dunhuang
the capital Lanzhou only possesses a white pagoda (Baita), but not far from here are the Binglingsi Grottoes
Maijishan Grottoes are near the city Tianshui
a Tibetian Lama monastery is near the city Labrang (chin. Xiahe )
near Zhangyi , we find the Matisi Grottoes The city itself is famous for Dafo Monastery (Song) with the large, 30 m long reclining Buddha, and a timber pagoda (Muta )
Guangdong Province:
Kaiyuan Monastery in Chaozhou the city of Foshan can show a red octogonal pagoda called Renshouta
the capital Guangzhou (Canton) is known for the following monasteries: Guangxiao (Jin) with two small iron pagodas, Liurong Monastery (Sui to Tang) with the Huata Pagoda Hualin Monastery with the hall of 500 Arhats. South of Guangzhou, we find the Zhenshan Baota Pagoda in Xinhui , and a pagoda in Shunde .Guang TaTower of the Remember the Prophet Mosque in guangzhou
Hebei Province:
Chengde (Jehol) is rather known as capital of the Manchu, but we find there also a handfull of monasteries erected or founded during the Qing Dynasty, like the Tibetian style Putuo Zongsheng Temple
near the capital Shijiazhuang is Fuqing Monastery (Sui) in a wonderful landscape. Near Zhengding, we find the Longxing Monastery (also Sui), and a Pilusi Monastery .
Henan Province:
Kaifeng was Northern Song capital and therefore has to show many monasteries, like the Iron Pagoda (Tieta ), the Fanta Pagoda (once 70 m tall), and Xiangguo Monastery Luoyang , also capital for many dynasties, is known for three places of Buddhism: the Baima Monastery , China's first monastery, Fengxian Monastery inside the Longmen Grottoes , and the Shaolin Monastery , known for the fighting technique of its monks
Hubei Province:
The capital Wuhan is an industrial city, but we can find here some monasteries, like the Guiyuan Monastery with a 500 Arhats Hall, Baotong Monastery with the Xingfuta Pagoda and Hongshan Baota Pagoda (all Song).
Hunan Province:
The capital Changsha can show us Kaifu Monastery (Tang).
Jiangsu Province:
Tianning Monastery (Tang) in Changzhou .
Jiming Monastery in Nanjing and Linggu and Qixia
Monasteries nearby.
The old city of Suzhou is not only famous for the gardens, but also for pagodas (Beisita , Shuangta , Ruiguangta ) and monasteries (Hanshansi , Lingyansi , Baoshengsi
Yangzhou was once a rich city of merchandise and therefore has many pagodas and monasteries, among them Tianning and Daming Monasteries , and Wenfengta Pagoda and a Stone Pagoda (Shita ).
Jinshansi Monastery (Jin) in Zhenjiang .
Qinghai Province:
Near Xining are Wufeng Monastery and the Monastery Kumbum (chin. Taersi ), one of the most important monasteries of Tibetian Lamaism (Ming).
Shanxi Province:
Datong was once capital of the Northern Wei Dynasty and is crowned with many monasteries, like Shenhua and Huayan Monasteries. Near Datong are the famous Yungang Grottoes .
Guangsheng Monastery (Jin to Yuan) in the rather unknown town Hongdong
The capital Taiyuan houses the Chongshan Monastery (Ming) and a Double Pagoda (Shuangta ; Tang). Nearby are Longshan Grottoes (not the big famous Longshan!) and Tianlongshan Grottoes.
Tianning Monastery (Tang) on Guashan Mountain
Xuanzhong Monastery (Tang) near Jiaocheng .
Wutaishan Mountain is one of the sacred Buddhist mountains with many temples and pagodas.
Shandong Province:
Near the capital Jinan is the Thousand Buddha Mountain Qianfoshan with the Xingguo Monastery (Tang).
Shaanxi Province:
Xi'an (former Chang'an ) was capital for many rulers and dynasties. As capital, many Buddhist monks and Buddhist rulers founded monasteries. The most famous buildings are the Small and Large Wild Goose Pagodas (Xiaoyanta in Jianfu Monastery , Dayanta in Cien Monastery) from the Tang Dynasty. Other monasteries are Guangrensi (a Qing Dynasty Lama temple), Daxingshansi (Jin Dynasty), Qinglongsi ; near the city are Xingjiaosi , Huayansi , Xiangjisi and Caotangsi
Monasteries.
Yan'an is not only the city where the Communist Party leaders camped during the civil war, but is also known for a Song Dynasty pagoda Yananta .
Sichuan Province:
The capital Chengdu is home for three monasteries: Dacisi (Tang), Zhaojuesi (Tang), and Baoguangsi (Jin).Probably the most famous Buddhist mountain is Emeishan with many monasteries, statues and steles.
The huge stone Buddha statue (Dafo ) of Leshan Mountain was carved during the Tang Dynasty.
Yunnan Province:
The old kingdom of Dali was converted to Buddhism and erected three tall pagodas during the Chinese Tang Dynasty.
Zhejiang Province:
The silk city of Hangzhou is home of some monasteries, like the Lingyinsi Monastery with the large Maitreya potbelly Buddha; further, the Song Dynasty Liuheta Pagoda
Ningbo is home of Tianfengta Pagoda (Tang), and the monasteries Baoguosi (Song), Tiantongsi (Tang), and Ayuwang Monastery .
The island Putuoshan is one of the sacred Buddhist mountains. The Bodhisattva Guanyin is the main object of reverence on this island.
Dashan Monstery (Song Dynasty) in Shaoxing
The Tiantai school was founded in the monasteries of Mount Tiantai .
Lingfeng and Lingyan Monasteries (both Ming) are Buddhist complexes of the Yandangshan Mountains
Autonomous Region of Tibet:
Palkhor Monastery (Chinese: Baijusi) in Gyangze (Chinese: Jiangzi)
Jokhang Monastery (Chinese: Dazhaosi), Ramoche Monastery (Chinese: Xiaozhaosi) and the Potala (Chinese: Budalagong) in Lhasa (Chinese: Lasa). Near Lhasa are the monasteries Drepung (Chinese: Zhefengsi), Nechung (Chinese: Shenyusi), Sera (Chinese: Selasi), Ganden (Chinese: Gandansi), and Nethang (Chinese: Nietangsi).
Sagya Monastery (Chinese: Saqiesi)
Rongbuk Monastery (Chinese: Rongbusi)
Tashilunpho Monastery (Chinese: Zhashilunbusi) in Shigatse (Xigaze, Chinese: Rikaze)
Samye (chin. Sangyisi ), and Yumbulhakhang Monasteries (chin. Changzhusi) in Zedang
Autonomous Region of Inner Mongolia:
Kundulun and Wudang Monasteries (resembling the Potala) in Baotou
Wuta Monastery and and Lama Temple Dazhao in Hohhot (chin. Huhehaote). Nearby the White Pagoda (Baita) and the Huayan Pagoda.
Hong Kong:
Hong Kong is more famous as a market place than a cultural heritage. Nontheless, tourists can find here a Ten Thousand Buddha Monastery (cant. Maahnfahtji) in the New Territories, and Po Lin Monastery on the island of Lantao (cant. Daaihyuhsaan ) with the largest bronze Buddha of the world.
Taiwan:
The only noteworthy place of Buddhist worship in Taiwan (although there are small temples in every town) is Foguangshan Mountain near Gaoxiong , with a huge bronze Buddha, erected in 1967
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