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Make a Wish When the Bell Chimes: Top 5 Places to Greet Chinese New Year in Shanghai

Chinese New Year is just around the corner and the bells are going to ring. Where will you embrace the New Year’s Eve in shanghai? Shanghaihighlights.com will show how to welcome the New Year in a different way. Let the bells chime!

NO.1 Longhua Temple

Longhua Temple

Longhua Temple is the largest temple with the longest history in Shanghai. It resumed the bell-striking tradition on the New Year’s Eve in the late 80’s. Every year, the temple holds a ceremony of supplicating blessings in the chiming of the bell to greet the New Year on the New Year’s Eve and Chinese New Year’s Eve. Many locals and tourists go to pray and it is believed that the chiming of the bells come along with a good beginning of the year to come.

Built during the period of the Three Kingdoms (238-251), the temple is located at NO.853 Long Hua Road. It is recorded that Maitreya Bodhisattva would get enlightenment under the Longhua tree and because of this the temple was named Longhua Temple. Most of the palace halls there were built during the Qing Dynasty. The 100 plus-year-old tree-peony was planted in the temple during the Qing Dynasty. The tree together with the Evening Bell is well-known as Longhua Shuang Jue, which means two superb attractions in this temple.

Getting There

NO.2 Jade Buddha Temple

Jade Buddha Temple

As one of the key Buddhist temples, Jade Buddha Temple is popular among local people and tourists. Every Chinese New Year’s Eve, many people flock there to pray for happiness when the bell chimes.

Situated in the city center it has quiet surroundings and is therefore called “a peaceful land in the noisy city”. It is well-known for the 2 jade Buddha statues imported from Burma. Jade Buddha Temple is not only a famous temple, but also one of the Top 10 Attractions in Shanghai. The vegetarian restaurant there is noted among the temple foods in China.

NO.3 Jing’an Temple

Jingan Temple

Similar to of Longhua Temple, Jing’an Temple was also built during the Three Kingdoms (247). It has many followers and a 1700-year history so this key temple’s Bell-Striking activity on the New Year’s Eve is grand and finds great favor among many people each year. The chime of the bell conveys good wishes for the future to countless people each year.

Jing’an Temple was originally constructed in Jiang Bei Yan, Wu Song District. However, it was prone to collapse as it was near the river and easily damaged by flooding. In 1216 during the Song Dynasty, the temple was moved to the current place. Nowadays, the temple contains the Hall of Heavenly King, the Great Buddha’s Hall, the Hall of Three Buddha and an exhibition of Buddhist historical relics. The morning chanting each day attracts many tourists.

Getting There

Take Subway NO.1/NO.2/NO.7 or Bus NO. 20/NO.37/NO.57/NO.76/NO.330/NO.323 and get off at Jing’ an Station.

NO.4 Bao Hua Temple

Bao Hua TempleOn ordinary days this temple is quite tranquil. However, during Chinese festivals many local people visit to pray. On New Year’s Eve they attend the bell-striking activity to greet the New Year.

Bao Hua Temple was built in the Southern Song Dynasty (1265-1274) and re-built in the Ming Dynasty and the Qing Dynasty. The murals and halls of Buddha are Song Dynasty Style with high ornamental value. Unlike the 3 temples mentioned above, which serve both as temples and attractions receiving many tourists every day, Bao Hua Temple is more popular with local people during Chinese festivals.

Getting There

  • Take Bus NO. 528 and get off at Jiangchang West Road Station
  • Take Bus NO.909 and get off at Jiaocheng Road Station

NO. 5 Donglin Temple

Dong Lin Temple Donglin Temple is the biggest temple is Jinshan District in Shanghai. On the Eve of the New Year, the temple also holds the bell-striking activity to welcome the coming year. Residents of Jinshan district like to go there to make a wish when the bell chimes.

Built in 1308 in the Yuan Dynasty, Donglin Temple was originally called the Hall of Guanyin. It was re-named Donglin Temple in 1313. The 12 highlights in the temple gather the essence of Buddhism and architecture.

Getting There

Take the special bus—Lianzhu Line on South Square of Lianhua Road Station along the Subway NO.1 and get off at Zhu Jing Bus Station. The temple is near the bus station.

Bus Fare: 11 yuan/person

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