Travel Diary | Shandong → Zibo [Zhengjue Temple in Boshan]

A Sanctuary for the Soul | The Ultimate Guide to Zhengjue Temple in Zibo✨ If you're looking for a place to find inner peace, Zhengjue Temple in Zibo is the perfect choice! This ancient temple, with a history of over 1,600 years dating back to the Eastern Jin Dynasty, exudes a sense of timelessness in every brick and stone. 📍 Address: No. 11, Lianhua Shan North Road, Boshan District, Zibo City, Shandong Province 🚗 Transportation: Driving is recommended. There's a large free parking lot at the south gate of Zhengjue Temple, making parking super convenient. There are even charging stations available. If you're taking the bus, it's best to check the routes in advance, as some can be inconvenient. ⏰ Opening Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm, a 2–3-hour visit is recommended. 🎫 Tickets: Free! No reservations needed—a spontaneous trip is totally doable! As soon as you enter the temple gate, you'll be enveloped by a solemn yet serene atmosphere. The temple's architecture is in the Tang and Song Dynasty style, with flying eaves, intricate brackets, carved beams, and painted rafters, all exuding an ancient charm. Follow the central axis to visit the Shanmen (Mountain Gate), the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Hall of the Medicine Buddha, and the Grand Hall of the Ten Thousand Buddhas. Each hall is magnificent, and the Buddha statues inside are both majestic and compassionate, inspiring awe and reverence. 📖 You can pick up a booklet at the entrance with information about the temple and a map—don't miss it! You can get a stamp in each hall. Collect all the stamps to receive a free lucky bag containing a Buddha amulet and a bracelet. It's a great souvenir, and kids especially love it, as it feels like a treasure hunt. 🍚 The temple also offers free vegetarian meals. Lunch is served from 11:30am - 12:30pm. Arrive 10 minutes early to avoid long queues. The meal includes millet porridge, steamed buns, rice, vegetables, and seaweed soup. The flavors are light and refreshing, allowing you to savor the natural taste of the ingredients. Please avoid wasting food. It's considered a virtuous act to rinse your bowl with hot water and drink it after finishing your meal. 🙏 Incense Offering Procedure: Offer incense outside the hall first, then light it at the designated area. Hold the incense in your left hand, cover your left hand with your right, bow three times, then enter the hall. Put your palms together and bow once, kneel and kowtow, rise, and repeat this three times. In addition, Zhengjue Temple occasionally holds tea meditation and breathwork activities, allowing you to quiet your mind and experience Zen. You can also apply to volunteer and immerse yourself in temple life. Zhengjue Temple is not overly commercialized and is a truly purifying place for the soul. If you have time during your trip to Zibo, be sure to visit Zhengjue Temple. You're sure to find inner peace and tranquility!