Key takeaways
- It is a 1,800-year-old Buddhist temple ringed by 30-story office towers — the contrast is the attraction.
- Subway Line 2 or 7 to Jing’an Temple station, exit 1; the gold-roofed temple is directly above the station.
- ¥50 entry, open 7:30 AM to 5 PM daily (last entry 4:30); buy at the gate or pre-buy on Trip.com.
- Allow 60–90 minutes: Mahavira Hall, the jade Buddha, the bell tower and the rooftop walkway.
- Go 8–9 AM for morning chants and few crowds, or 4–5 PM for the golden-hour rooftop photo.
What Jing'an Temple is
Jing’an Temple (静安寺) ends up on almost every Shanghai itinerary, even though most foreign visitors aren’t quite sure why before they go. The short answer: it is a 1,800-year-old Buddhist temple completely surrounded by 30-story office buildings, and the visual contrast — gold-leafed roofs and incense smoke against a backdrop of Tiffany & Co., LVMH and Plaza 66 — is the actual attraction. It also gives the surrounding district (Jing’an District 静安区) and a major subway interchange their name. What follows is the practical visitor guide: transit, hours, what to actually see, what to skip, and how it fits into a Shanghai trip.
How to get there
Subway Metro Line 2 (green) or Line 7 (orange) to Jing’an Temple station (静安寺). Take exit 1. The temple is the gold-roofed structure on the corner directly above the station — you literally cannot miss it.
| From | Route | Time · cost |
|---|---|---|
| The Bund | Line 2, 4 stops | ~25 min · ¥4 |
| People’s Square | Line 2, 3 stops | ~10 min · ¥3 |
| Lujiazui (Pudong skyline) | Line 2, 5 stops | ~20 min · ¥4 |
| Pudong Airport PVG | Line 2 direct | ~1 hr · ¥8 |
| Hongqiao Airport SHA | Line 2 direct | ~35 min · ¥6 |
| Xintiandi | Line 13 to South Shaanxi Rd, transfer Line 1 north | ~12 min · ¥4 |
Didi from People’s Square is ¥30–45 in moderate traffic, but slower than the subway in any rush hour. Walking from East Nanjing Road (the Bund-adjacent shopping street) is not recommended — it’s 5 km and Nanjing Road is a pedestrian mob. The Shanghai city guide covers the wider metro map and where to base yourself.
Tickets, hours, and what's included
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Entry | ¥50 adult (~$7 USD). Children under 1.3 m free; seniors over 70 with passport free. |
| Hours | Daily 7:30 AM – 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM). |
| Closed days | None. Open year-round including Chinese New Year (busiest then with local worshippers). |
| Buying | At the gate — no lines except major holidays. Pre-buy on Trip.com to skip the kiosk on Golden Week dates. |
| Included | All halls and floors, the rooftop walkway, free incense at the entrance counter (3 sticks per visitor). |
| Not included | Optional ¥100 special pavilion tickets — skippable for first-time visitors. |
What to see (in 90 minutes)
| Hall | Time | What’s there |
|---|---|---|
| Hall of Heavenly Kings 天王殿 | 10 min | First hall inside the south gate. Four 4-meter Heavenly Kings (one per cardinal direction), each holding a symbol — sword, pipa lute, snake, umbrella. The smiling Maitreya (the “laughing Buddha”) is in the center. |
| Mahavira Hall 大雄宝殿 | 25 min · main event | The signature hall: three gold-leafed Buddhas (Past, Present, Future), 18 Arhats along the walls, Sanskrit mantras on the ceiling. The largest active worship space — you’ll see locals making offerings. Photos allowed, flash discouraged. |
| Jade Buddha Hall 玉佛殿 | 15 min | Upper level via the staircase east of Mahavira Hall. The 1.4-meter Burmese white-jade Buddha — the largest in mainland China, carved from a single block, genuinely translucent in afternoon light. (Not the separate “Jade Buddha Temple” 玉佛寺, 5 km west.) |
| Bell tower + rooftop | 20 min | The east bell tower holds a 7,000 kg bronze bell from 1183 AD. The connecting rooftop walkway is the photo spot most visitors miss — gold roof in the foreground, Plaza 66 (281 m) and Jing’an Kerry Centre behind. Best at 4–5 PM golden hour. |
| Hall of Three Sages + side chapels | 15 min | Smaller halls for Pure Land figures. Worth a walk-through. North gate exits onto West Nanjing Road for shopping; south gate puts you back at the subway. |
To attend a chant: morning chants run roughly 8:00–8:30 AM in Mahavira Hall. Sit at the back, don’t photograph monks, no flash. Free.
Buddhist context for foreign visitors
Jing’an Temple is an active Chan (禅) and Pure Land Buddhist temple — the two largest schools of Han Chinese Buddhism. Founded in 247 AD during the Three Kingdoms period, moved to its current Jing’an District location in 1216 AD during the Southern Song dynasty. The current buildings are mostly post-1980s reconstruction (the original was largely demolished during the Cultural Revolution), but built to traditional Tang-dynasty proportions.
For Buddhist travelers from Thailand, Sri Lanka or Southeast Asia accustomed to Theravada temples, Chinese Mahayana practice differs in iconography (Bodhisattvas like Guanyin and Maitreya are prominent), in monastic robes (gray/brown rather than saffron) and in offering style (incense + flowers rather than lotus + gold leaf). Worship is welcomed regardless of school; staff are used to international Buddhist visitors.
What to skip
- The optional ¥100 special pavilion tickets — only worth it for repeat visitors or Buddhist scholars; the included halls cover everything notable.
- Photographing monks during chants — not allowed, culturally inappropriate, and you will be asked to leave.
- The temple gift shop — the same Buddhist memorabilia as any tourist temple in China, marked up 3–4×. The free incense at the entrance is the meaningful souvenir.
How it fits into a Shanghai trip
Jing’an Temple is a 90-minute stop, not a half-day commitment. Three good combinations:
- Morning — 8 AM Jing’an Temple → 10:30 AM walk 5 min to Jing’an Park → 11:30 AM lunch on Anfu Road or West Nanjing Road (15-min walk south to the Plaza 66 area).
- Afternoon — 2 PM Shanghai Museum at People’s Square → 4 PM Line 2 to Jing’an Temple for the golden-hour rooftop photo → 5:30 PM dinner in the French Concession.
- En-route to/from Pudong Airport — 1 hr from PVG via Line 2; drop bags at the hotel, then do Jing’an Temple as your first Shanghai stop because it’s directly on the Line 2 route.
Pre-buy Jing’an Temple ticketsNASDAQ: TCOM
The ¥50 gate ticket rarely has a queue — but on Golden Week dates it does. Trip.com lists the Jing’an Temple ticket plus Shanghai temple-and-skyline tours, booked in English on a foreign card.
Affiliate links — booking via Trip.com costs you nothing extra and helps fund our independent research. How we’re funded.
Frequently asked questions
How do you get to Jing'an Temple in Shanghai?
Subway Metro Line 2 or Line 7 to Jing'an Temple station (静安寺). Take exit 1 — the temple is the gold-roofed building on the corner directly above the station, you literally cannot miss it. From the Bund: 25 min via Line 2 (4 stops, ¥4). From People's Square: 10 min via Line 2 (3 stops). From Pudong Airport: 1 hour via Line 2 direct (¥8). From Hongqiao Airport: 35 min via Line 2 direct (¥6).
What is the entry fee for Jing'an Temple?
¥50 standard adult ticket (about $7 USD), bought at the gate or via Trip.com. Children under 1.3m are free; seniors over 70 with passport are free. Entry includes all halls and the rooftop. Buddhist incense for offering is included. There is no separate ticket for the upper levels.
What time does Jing'an Temple open?
Open daily 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM (last entry 4:30 PM). Open year-round including Chinese New Year. The best time to visit is 8-9 AM for morning chants and minimal crowds, or 4-5 PM for the rooftop golden-hour photo with the surrounding skyscrapers. Avoid 11 AM-2 PM weekends — peak tourist crush.
Why is Jing'an Temple famous?
Three reasons: (1) age — founded 247 AD in the Three Kingdoms period, making it 1,800 years old in its current location since 1216 AD; (2) the architectural contrast — a Tang-dynasty Buddhist temple now ringed entirely by 30-story office towers in Shanghai's most expensive shopping district; (3) the gold-leafed Mahavira Hall (大雄宝殿) and the 1.4-meter Burmese white jade Buddha — the largest jade Buddha statue in mainland China. The temple gives the surrounding district (Jing'an District 静安区) and a major subway interchange their name.
Is Jing'an Temple worth visiting?
Yes if (a) you have not yet seen Hangzhou's Lingyin Temple or any major Beijing temple; or (b) you specifically care about the architectural contrast (Tang Buddhism in a Tiffany & Co. neighborhood is a real thing to see); or (c) you're a Buddhist traveler — Jing'an is an active worship site with daily chants and significant contemporary Pure Land practice. Skip if you've already done 2+ Chinese Buddhist temples this trip — the layout and iconography are similar to Hangzhou's larger Lingyin or Beijing's Yonghe (Lama) Temple.
How long does a visit to Jing'an Temple take?
60-90 minutes is enough for the typical foreign visitor. 30 min for the inner courtyards (Hall of Heavenly Kings → Mahavira Hall → Hall of Three Sages); 20 min for the upper-level jade Buddha hall and the bell tower; 20-30 min for photography from the rooftop angles. Add 30 min if you want to attend morning chants (8 AM, free, sit at the back, do not photograph monks).
Can you take photos inside Jing'an Temple?
Outside and in courtyards: yes, freely. Inside the halls: photos of the architecture are allowed; photos of Buddha statues are technically allowed but discouraged signs are posted; photos of monks during chants or ceremonies are not allowed. The most common foreigner mistake is using flash inside halls — disable your flash before entering.
What's the dress code for Jing'an Temple?
Looser than most major Western religious sites — no formal dress code. Avoid very short shorts, crop tops, or beachwear. Shoulders covered is preferred but not enforced. You don't need to remove shoes (unlike a Thai or Burmese Buddhist temple). Bringing your own incense is fine; the temple supplies free incense at the entrance counter.
Plan your Shanghai trip
- Things to do in Shanghai — 11 ranked picks + a 3-day itinerary.
- Shanghai city guide — transit, where to stay, what to eat.
- Beijing ↔ Shanghai HSR — getting in or out by train.
Verification scope
This is an editorially-aggregated guide. Our editor is Chongqing-based, not a Shanghai resident, so the details here are compiled rather than first-hand: hours, the ¥50 fee, hall layout and transit are checked against the temple’s official information, Shanghai Metro line data and Trip.com listings + reviews (2024–2026), cross-referenced with aggregated r/travelchina threads. Founding date (247 AD), the 1216 AD relocation and the jade-Buddha dimensions follow standard published histories. Photographs are licensed stock of Jing’an Temple, not first-hand. Hours, fees and crowd levels shift — confirm on the day.