Lingyin Temple, also known as ‘Yunlin Temple’, is nestled at the foot of Lingyin Mountain on the west side of West Lake. The temple’s serene environment is a testament to its status as one of Hangzhou’s earliest renowned monasteries, housing numerous exquisite cultural relics from various dynasties. As the place where the legendary monk Ji Gong took his vows, it is reputed for its efficacy in fulfilling wishes, attracting a steady stream of devotees who come to offer prayers and blessings. With a history spanning over seventeen hundred years, Lingyin Temple has become a treasure trove of history and culture: the plaque ‘Yunlin Zen Temple’ hanging in the Tian Wang Hall was inscribed by Emperor Kangxi of the Qing dynasty; the stone pagoda in front of the Mahavira Hall and the stone sutra pillar in front of the Tian Wang Hall are relics from the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period of the Wu Yue state; the temple’s collection includes precious Buddhist artifacts such as ancient palm-leaf scriptures, a gilded Eastern Wei Buddha statue, a Ming Dynasty calligraphy of the Diamond Sutra by Dong Qichang, and the Qing Yongzheng woodblock dragon canon. Lingyin Temple is also the monastery where the monk Dao Ji, known as ‘Ji Gong’, took his vows. A statue in the Hall of Dao Ji Chan Shi depicts him with a broken fan in his right hand, prayer beads in his left, and his right foot resting on a wine vat, embodying the image of Ji Gong. The temple is backed by the Bei Gao Feng peak and faces the Fei Lai Feng peak. Though not tall, Fei Lai Feng is home to many fantastic and varied caves, as well as over three hundred and forty Buddhist grotto sculptures dating from the Five Dynasties, making it a rare gem of ancient cave art in southern China. The temple is always bustling with worshippers, especially on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month and during significant Buddhist festivals, when believers from all directions gather in vast numbers. The temple is open from 06:30 to 17:45 all year round; from 06:30 to 18:15 during the extended hours. On national holidays, the scenic area opens half an hour earlier and closes half an hour later. Special policies include free entry for children under six years of age or under 1.2 meters in height, half-price for adolescents aged between six and eighteen or between 1.2 and 1.5 meters in height, half-price for seniors aged between sixty and sixty-nine with identification, and free entry for those aged seventy and above with identification. Full-time undergraduate and below students in mainland China enjoy half-price with a valid student ID, active-duty military personnel enter free with valid documentation, and individuals with disabilities enter free with valid documentation. Complementary notes: the above preferential policies apply to the Fei Lai Feng Scenic Area. From February 1, 2024, preferential tickets such as half-price tickets for Lingyin Fei Lai Feng must be purchased at the scene with valid documents, and online sales are suspended until further notice.
