Longhua Temple (Longhua Si), the largest, most active Buddhist temple in Shanghai, is especially famous for its 10th-century, seven-story octagonal pagoda. Longhua Temple you will also find a memorial for the victims of the brutal 1927 civilian massacre by Chang Kai-Shek's men.
Because it is quite old and fragile, the interior of the Longhua pagoda is not available for touring, however, from the outside you can note that the pagoda is made of wood and brick and has tiny bells hanging in its delicate eaves. By the front entrance, there is a three-story bell tower (Zhong Lu) with a 3.3-ton bronze bell, which is rung at midnight every New Year's Eve. This huge bell was cast in 1894 and is struck 108 times to resolve all the problems of mankind. For a fee of 10 ($1.3), you can ring the bell three times.
The large temple grounds north of the newly created pedestrian street are usually filled with people praying and buing incense. There are four main halls in the temple, which are all about a century old.
Da Xiong Bao Dian (Grand Hall), the third hall, is the most impressive of the four. There is a gilded statue of Sakyamuni sitting under a swirling red and gold carved dome. He is surrounded on each side by 18 disciples. Behind him, Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy, stands over a tableau representing the process of reincaation: a boat in the bottom right coer indicates birth, while death awaits at the bottom left coer. The monks gather here in the Grand Hall daily from 8 to 11 AM and from 1 to 3 PM to pray for souls of the deceased, whose photos sit on the altar. You can witness this from the side of the hall.
The fourth hall, Sanshen Bao Dian, features three representations of the Buddha. Behind the third and fourth halls is a renowned vegetarian restaurant (open 11am-2pm), as well as the Longhua Hotel and a room with seven rows of small golden statues.
If you are lucky enough to come in April, during Longhua Temple Fair, you will find the temple elaborately decorated and the entire grounds packed vendors selling Chinese food, crafts and more. This occasion is special because it is believed that this is when the dragons visit the temple to grant people's wishes. Stop by and see if your wish will come true!
