Longhua Temple,which is famous for the ancient Longhua Temple, Longhua Pagoda, the Evening Bell-Striking Ceremony and the peach blossoms, is the largest and most active Buddhist temple in Shanghai. It is especially famous for its 10th-century, seven-story octagonal pagoda.

Longhua Temple is traditionally believed to have been founded around 247 AD by Sun Quán, the king of the Wú Kingdom during the Three Kingdoms period. The pagoda dates from the 10th century. Due to fires and wars, most of the current temple buildings are fairly new during the reign of the Emperor Tongzhi and Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty.

Besides its long history, Longhua Temple is the largest temple in Shanghai. It occupies an area of over 20,000 square meters (five acres) and the architectural proportion is about 5,000 square meters (one point two acres). Along the 194 meters long (637 feet) axis are the Maitreya Hall (Miledian), Devajara Hall (Tianwangdian), Mahavira Hall (Daxiongbaodian), Three Sages Hall (Sanshengdian), Abbot's Hall (Fangzhangshi) and the Sutras Keeping Hall (Cangjinglou) which keeps the three treasures of the temple including the Dazang sutras, the gold seals and the Buddhist statues. Accessory halls on the two sides are the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, both of them are furnished with the same hexagonal windows and the curved eaves. The whole courtyard was built strictly in the style of traditional Buddhist symmetry and it's in accordance with the Chinese concept of beauty.

A venerable copper bell which is two meters in height, one point three meters in diameter and weighs five tons (11,023 pounds) is placed on the three-storied Bell Tower. The Evening Bell-Striking Ceremony on 31st December is regarded as one of the eight great attractions of Shanghai. Welcoming the New Year in the melodious, heavenly sound of the bell is an interesting and memorable experience.

The seven-storied, 40.4 meters high Longhua Pagoda stands in front of the Longhua Temple, the brick body and the wooden staircases make up the main structure of the Longhua Pagoda. Each storey is smaller than the storey below, and all the levels are encircled by balconies and banisters. Bells on each corner of the octagonal eaves make cheerful and lively sounds as the wind passes by. Longhua Pagoda has been rebuilt several times, but the style of the Song Dynasty still remains to today.

Every April is the Longhua Temple Fair, when the entire temple area is packed with stalls selling Chinese food, crafts and more. The temple is elaborately decorated for the occasion, and it is said that dragons visit the temple to grant people's wishes.

Admission Fee: CNY 10
Opening Hours: 07:10 to 16:30
Recommended Time for a Visit: One and a half hours