Located northwest of Lushan Mountain in Jiujiang City,Donglin Temple has a history of over 1,600 years, it is renowned as the cradle of Chinese Pure Land Buddhism. Donglin Temple was established by Monk Hui Yuan in the year 384 during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 - 420), it with many grand structures and the profound culture of Buddhism attracts many visitors from both home and abroad each year.

The monastery was built by Huiyuan, a famous monk of his time, who was also the originator of the Pure Land Sect of Buddhism (also named Lotus Sect). In the past centuries, the Pure Land Sect was widely spread by Huiyuan's followers. Some of its doctrines were even spread to Japan. Now in China, among the several Buddhists sects, the Pure Land Sect is worshipped by 80% of total Buddhist disciples. With the spread of the Pure Land Sect doctrines, the importance of Donglin Temple has also grown.

Donglin Temple covers an area of about 120,000 square meters (29.7 acres) with a floor area of about 4,500 square meters (1.1 acres). The surrounding mountains make the Donglin Temple rather remote and secluded. The monastery was quite prosperous during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907), and there were more than 300 halls and rooms at that time. Being the major sermon place of Buddhism for a long time, Donglin Temple established its fame and prestige firmly. Jian Zhen (688 - 763), a dignitary of the Tang Dynasty, rested at the Donglin Monastery after his fifth failure to travel to Japan. During his stay, he and the Donglin monks had a good exchange of thoughts. Then in the year 753, Jian Zhen together with Zhi En, a monk in Donglin, made a sixth trip to Japan and arrived the next year. Thus began the mission of prevailing Buddhism and the Chinese civilization.

Donglin Temple is a place of stories. It was destroyed during the Anti-Japanese War (1973 - 1945), the existing buildings were rebuilt in recent years. Along the central axis visitors can appreciate the gate; the Great Buddha's Hall attached to Arhat Hall, Mile hall, and Shenyun Hall, attached to Sanxiao Hall, depositary of Buddhist texts and other relics.

Tourists have the chance to share vegetarian food with monks in the temple. Entering the dining hall, men sit in lines on the right side and women on the left. The monks stand in two lines reciting the Buddhist scriptures, kowtowing toward the Buddha and playing religious music. Tourists must not make any noise when eating. If they want more food, they can draw circles in their bowl with their chopsticks and the monks will help them. When the dinner is finished, monks will chant scriptures again to request the Buddha bless the tourists. The entire process is sacred and solemn and provides tourists with a sense of the culture of the Buddhist religion.