EXTRA: Three Temples in Badachu

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 4, 2013.)

Xiangjie ("Incense or Fragrant World") Temple (香界寺) in Badachu (八大处) Park, Beijing (北京), had a
collection of statues in a couple of pavilions outside, including these two Hell Beings (地狱众生).

July 9, 2011 - It's a comfortable downhill walk from Baozhu Cave to Badachu's other temples. I saw three of them, with plenty of rest stops. Yet, in around two hours I was back at the Relic Pagoda near the entrance to the park.

EXTRA: Sanshan Nunnery and Baozhu Cave, Beijing

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 25, 2013.)

This quaint wooden gate presages the simplicity of Sanshan An (三山庵=
Three Mountain Nunnery) in Badachu (八大处) Park, Beijing (北京).

July 9, 2011 - Leaving the Relic Pagoda, my student/patron and I walked toward the cable car station. On the way we passed tiny Sanshan Nunnery. Centered around one courtyard, it was built in 1151 and named for the three sets of hills where Badachu is located: Cuiwei, Pinpo, and Lushi Hills. It was quaint, but only took a moment for viewing.

We then pressed on to the station, where we bought tickets to the top of Pinpo Hill where Baozhu ("Precious Pearl") Cave is located. On the way up, we had spectacular views of the Relic Pagoda and the city beyond.

No. 48: Lingguang Temple, Beijing

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 18, 2013.)

The well-venerated base is all that remains of the Buddha's Tooth Relic Pagoda (佛牙
舍利塔) at Lingguang Temple (灵光寺), one of the "Eight Great Sites" (八大处=Badachu) in
western Beijing (北京). The newly-built replacement can be seen in the upper right.

July 9, 2011 - My next temple trip took place in the summer of 2011. A local businessman, a student of mine, offered to take me along on a business trip to Beijing. He put me in one of the most expensive hotels in the capital, and paid for a car and driver to take me around. A five-star pilgrim!

My first goal was Badachu ("Eight Great Sites") Park at the base of the Western Hills. I saw six of the eight that day!

The only one on my list of 142 temples was the "Sheli Ta" or Relic Pagoda located at Lingguang Temple. The new pagoda is big and beautiful; but for beauty's sake the real attraction is the pedestal of the original pagoda.