Shuanglin Temple tour

Highlights:

• Explore the 2000 colourful painted sculptures

Discover one of China’s most remarkable cultural treasures with a visit to Shuanglin Temple, a serene and spectacular complement to the ancient walled city of Pingyao. Often described as China’s best-preserved historic town and honoured as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Pingyao is a highlight of our Very Best of China tour, celebrated for its temples, courtyards, watchtowers, government buildings and majestic town walls. Just four miles away, in the quiet village of Qiaotou, you will find Shuanglin Temple, an exceptional site that can be added as an optional excursion during your stay.

Though its earliest origins are unknown, Shuanglin Temple was reconstructed in 571 AD, a date recorded on the oldest stone tablet in the complex. Today it stands as a cultural treasure more than 1,400 years old and is recognised by UNESCO for its importance to the heritage of Pingyao. What truly sets the temple apart is its extraordinary collection of over 2,000 brightly painted sculptures. Created by anonymous folk artists across the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, these intricate works have earned Shuanglin Temple a reputation as one of the finest places in the world to admire ancient Chinese sculpture.

Spread across ten atmospheric halls, the sculptures depict Buddhist figures, guardians and representations of the Buddha himself. In the Heavenly Kings’ Hall, four imposing statues stand beneath the eaves, each over three metres tall. One holds a pipa, while the others carry a sword, a snake and an umbrella. The One Thousand Buddha Hall houses a graceful statue of the bodhisattva Kwan-yin poised on a pedestal, surrounded by more than 500 Bodhisattva figures. The Arhats’ Hall offers another striking vision of Kwan-yin, encircled by eighteen arhats striving toward nirvana. Each is portrayed with a distinct expression, but the mute arhat is the most memorable, his furrowed brow and pursed lips conveying emotion without a single word.

What's included

• Return transfers
• Entrance tickets