No. 13: Yufo Temple, Shanghai

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 19, 2012.)

The Yufo Temple (玉佛寺) in Shanghai (上海) is famous for the Jade Buddha after which it was
named, but there are several more jade figures there, including this one of Guanyin (观音).

August 26, 2009 - On my last day in Shanghai (and the last day of my first, nine-day pilgrimage) I went from Jing'an Temple up to nearby Yufo Si (Jade Buddha Temple), wherein reside several magnificent (you guessed it) jade Buddhas.

No. 12: Jing'an Temple, Shanghai

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 12, 2012.)

When I visited Jing'an Temple (静安寺) in Shanghai (上海), it was just being rebuilt. On a later
visit, although the temple was not finished, I saw this silver figure of Shakyamuni (释迦牟尼).

August 26, 2009 - The next morning, I walked back to Jing'an Si Station, where I finally saw the interior of the temple there, which is under construction.

Shanghai's Jing'an Temple (literally "Temple of Peace and Tranquility") is one of the oldest AND newest temples I've been to.

No. 11: Yuanming Jiangtang, Shanghai

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on March 5, 2012.)

The buildings at Yuanming Jiangtang (圆明讲堂) in Shanghai (上海) look like office
buildings, but some fine statues inside include this Jade Buddha (玉佛).

August 25, 2009 - Friends have asked me how I can visit so many temples and not get bored. "Aren't they all the same?" they wonder.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

After the precious Chengxiang Ge and the huge, stunning Longhua Temple, I managed to make it back to the area where I was staying to visit the Yuanming Lecture Hall.

No. 10: Longhua Temple, Shanghai

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 27, 2012.)

The pagoda (塔) at Longhua Temple (龙华寺) in Shanghai (上海)
stands outside the front gate, and is its most famous feature.

August 25, 2009 - From the tiny jewel of Chenxiang Ge, I took a single bus south to Longhua Temple, the largest ancient Buddhist temple in Shanghai.

No. 9: Chenxiangge, Shanghai

(This article was published in the Shenzhen Daily on February 20, 2012.)

The last hall (殿) at Chenxiangge (沉香阁) in Shanghai
(上海) has a statue of Guanyin (观音) made of an aromatic
wood called agarwood--"chenxiang" (沉香) in Chinese.

August 25, 2009 - After visiting Ningbo's Qita Temple, I spent a full day traveling to Shanghai. Then, the next morning, I visited one of the prettiest little temples I've seen, the Chenxiang Ge.

Trip 1: Zhejiang 1 (Hangzhou, Putuoshan, Ningbo) and Shanghai (August 17-26, 2009)

This is a record of my first trip to visit the 142 Key Temples of China. Links lead to articles on the temple (or other site) named.