[2025 Nanjing Attraction] Travel Guide for Hongjue Temple (Updated Apr)

Hongjue Temple in Jiangning, Nanjing, is located on Zutang Mountain in Dongshanqiao Town, Jiangning District, next to the Southern Tang Dynasty Mausoleums. The temple was first built in 503 AD, during the second year of the Tianjian period of the Liang Dynasty in the Southern Dynasties. It was originally named "Foku Temple" and later became "Hongjue Temple." During the Qing Dynasty, to avoid using the same character as Emperor Qianlong's given name, Hongli, it was renamed "Hongjue Temple." It was destroyed by fire during the Xianfeng period of the Qing Dynasty. Although it was later slightly repaired, its scale was not as large as before. During the Republic of China, Hongjue Temple was renamed Pujue Temple. In May 1993, with the approval of the Jiangning County People's Government, the relevant departments of the province and city agreed to allocate 30 mu of land in Zutang Mountain in Dongshanqiao Forest Farm for the long-term use of Hongjue Temple. The foundation laying ceremony for the restoration of Hongjue Temple was held on Zutang Mountain on August 5, 1993. Since 1994, more than 30 million yuan has been raised to build some temples and halls. Hongjue Temple South Gate is a few minutes north along the highway from the Southern Tang Dynasty Mausoleums. The temple is built on a mountain and near water, with many halls. The scale is very large, and the buildings are built on the mountain, row upon row, scattered and orderly, very majestic and spectacular. After a circle of pilgrimage, my feeling is that there are so many halls that almost all the halls that can be seen in Buddhist temples can be found here, which is completely different from the pattern of Buddhist temples I knew before. Hongjue Temple is one of the eight major national temples in Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty. It is the ancestral court of the Niutou Zen sect. In the early Tang Dynasty, Zen Master Farong, the successor of the Buddhist Zen sect, was stationed here and founded the sect, which is known in history as the "Niutou Zen sect," which had a profound impact on the Sinicization of Zen in later generations. At present, the temple project has not yet ended, and there are still projects under construction. There are very few pilgrims and tourists here, but it is a good place to calm down.

A Super Detailed Travel Guide to Niushou Hill📖 for an Immersive Buddhist Experience 📍 Address: No. 18 Ningdan Avenue, Jiangning District, Nanjing 🎫 Tickets: You can purchase tickets in advance on major travel apps or the official Niushou Hill WeChat account. Tickets are generally around 98 yuan, and booking in advance sometimes offers discounts~ 🚗 Transportation: - By car: Navigate directly to the Niushou Hill Tourist Center. The parking lot has ample parking spaces, and the parking fees are reasonable🅿 - Public transportation: Take Metro Line S3 to Tiexinqiao Station, then transfer to bus No. 754, 712, etc. to Niushou Hill Scenic Area. 🕙 Opening hours: 09:00 - 17:00 (last entry at 16:30). The recommended visiting time is 5 - 6 hours. If you want to take lots of photos, it's best to go early. 🗺 Suggested itinerary: - Enter from the east entrance: Take the sightseeing bus directly to Foding Palace (10 yuan/person for a one-way trip). This is the essence of Niushou Hill. The exterior resembles a giant Buddhist topknot, which is incredibly impressive. The interior is even more spectacular, with exquisite Buddha statues and dazzling lights, as if you have stepped into a Buddhist world. It's a great place for photos📸 - Foding Pagoda: Walk here after visiting Foding Palace. The pagoda is 88 meters high and has nine floors. From the top of the pagoda, you can enjoy the beautiful scenery of Niushou Hill, with rolling hills and lush greenery in the distance🌄 - Niutou Chan Culture Park: Here you can learn about the history and culture of Niutou Chan Buddhism. The tranquil atmosphere brings instant peace of mind. Stroll through the park and immerse yourself in the Zen ambiance🧘‍♀️ - Hongjue Temple Pagoda: This ancient pagoda has a long history and is surrounded by green trees, creating a simple and elegant atmosphere. It's a great spot for taking photos. 🍔 Food recommendations: - Inside the scenic area: There is a vegetarian restaurant where you can enjoy delicious and healthy vegetarian dishes and experience the unique vegetarian culture🥗 There are also various snacks, such as plum blossom cakes and sugared taro seedlings. Grab a bite when you're tired from walking around, and you'll feel completely satisfied. - Outside the scenic area: There are many agritourism restaurants nearby where you can enjoy authentic Nanjing cuisine, such as salted duck and braised fish head. They taste amazing😋 📌 Travel tips: - Be sure to wear comfortable shoes, as the scenic area is large and requires a lot of walking👟 - Tripods are prohibited inside Foding Palace. Please follow the rules when taking photos. - The photo effect is better when the weather is good. It is recommended to visit on a sunny day🌞 Save this post and plan a trip to Niushou Hill for a soul-healing journey💕

New Year's Day holiday, I escaped the city area and took a trip to Hongjue Temple. The experience was really awesome! Every time I go to Niushou Mountain, I've overlooked this place. I sincerely suggest that everyone should not only know about Niushou Mountain. Jinling little town and Hongjue Zen Temple are also very nice~ · 📍Location: Hongjue Zen Temple 🎫Ticket: Free 🚇Transport: Take the subway line 1 to Tianlong Temple Station, exit 2, transfer to 🚌bus 755 to Zutangshan Station, 🚶walk 800 meters, 🚗Self-driving: Navigate to the main mountain gate of Hongjue Temple, free parking inside the temple.

Hongjue Temple was not originally in my plan for traveling to Nanjing. It was only because the time at 4 o'clock on a Monday afternoon was too awkward that I thought about finding a nearby high point to watch the sunset. Unexpectedly, I was completely stunned by Hongjue Temple. When I first saw Hongjue Temple, I thought the name was too concrete. With such a grand visual impact, the temple really lives up to its name. There are so many famous temples in Nanjing, but this is the first time I know there is such a group of Zen temples hidden in the mountains and forests. The layout of the temples is also different from the common Zen temples. Because it was late, most of the temples were closed, but I just took a quick walk around the periphery and it took me an hour, which shows how large the scale is. I quickly asked Xiaodu and found out that the predecessor of Hongjue Temple was one of the Eight National Temples in Nanjing during the Ming Dynasty. The history of the temple can be traced back to the second year of Tianjian in the Liang Dynasty of the Southern Dynasties. It was originally named "Foku Temple". It is said that it was built by Li Yu, the Emperor Daizong of the Tang Dynasty, "inspired by a dream". Its fate is the same as that of all the 480 temples in the Southern Dynasties: prosperity at one time and destruction and reconstruction at another. Until it was completely burned down by the invading Japanese army, leaving only a lonely pagoda. I thought its story had come to an end, but I didn't expect it to meet a monk named Hongcheng. Although the master had passed away, his wish to rebuild the ancient Hongjue Temple was miraculously realized. If faith is tangible, Hongjue Temple can definitely be regarded as an outstanding example. In 1993, the government approved the allocation of 30 acres of land for the restoration of Hongjue Temple. In 1994, Master Hongcheng from Guanyin Peak of Jiuhua Mountain took over the task of presiding over the reconstruction. All the construction planning drawings and engineering construction drawings were drawn by Master Hongcheng, who had never been to school. When he imagined building 57 large halls in this mountain forest stroke by stroke, he must have been immersed in pious joy. After that, in order to raise funds, Master Hongcheng and his disciples ran around everywhere, providing massage and medical treatment to raise funds. He often wore patchwork clothes and was incredibly simple. He even had to tear a napkin slowly before using it. Others often mistook him for a beggar, so he jokingly called himself a begging monk. In the 1990s, they were able to raise more than 30 million yuan without using any government funds. It took more than ten years to build the temple to its current size. Regardless of whether the master is an enlightened monk or not, the power of his faith really shocked me. A determined idealist is always moving. Although it is an antique building, as the largest religious antique building complex in Nanjing, Hongjue Temple is still worth seeing. The most important thing is that you don’t need a ticket, your car can drive straight into the mountain gate and even go directly to the top of the mountain. I don’t know why not many people come here, but I like it very much. It is said that it will be expanded. Master Hongcheng would probably be very proud if he knew about it.

Hongjue Temple is worthy of being the largest temple in Nanjing. We spent more than two hours visiting it. It covers an area of ​​nearly 500 acres and has 72 temples. It is magnificent and majestic. The ancient temple was first built in the Southern Dynasties and has a history of more than 1,500 years. It was originally named "Foku Temple" and later called "Hongjue Temple". In the Qing Dynasty, in order to avoid the name of Emperor Qianlong, Hongli, it was renamed "Hongjue Temple". It was one of the Eight National Temples in Nanjing in the Ming Dynasty. The temple is hidden in the mountains and forests, far away from the hustle and bustle, quiet and peaceful. There are few people going there on weekends. The only people coming and going are calm practitioners and pilgrims who come to worship Buddha. There is no trace of commercialization, and there are also a lot of Paw Patrol in the temple. Hongjue Temple faces Yuntai Mountain and is backed by Niu Shou Mountain. It is surrounded by mountains and has beautiful scenery. To its south is the largest underground palace in the Jiangnan region - the Second Tombs of the Southern Tang Dynasty. The temple is located on the mountainside. To burn incense and worship Buddha, one has to climb up the stairs. The highest point, the Main Hall, is 180.50 meters above sea level. Looking out into the distance, the view is excellent and you can see the mountains, forests and villages. The ancient temple was brutally destroyed by the Japanese army during the Anti-Japanese War. Except for the isolated pagoda, all other buildings were gone. It was later rebuilt by Master Hongcheng without any government funding. All funds were raised by the abbot and his disciples. After 21 years of hard work, this grand temple has been built, covering an area of ​​nearly 500 acres and with a construction area of ​​nearly 40,000 square meters. Tickets: Free Opening hours: 8.00-17:00 Public transportation: Take Metro Line S1, exit at Jiyin Avenue Station, Exit 1, take bus No. 869 to Zutangshan Station, and walk 500 meters. Self-driving: Navigate to the main gate of Hongjue Temple, and you can drive directly into the temple. Parking is free. Nanjing Tourism

Nanjing Hongjue Zen Temple: A place with no admission fee, free parking, 10 yuan vegetarian meal (three dishes and one soup), where pets are allowed, and you can also draw lots! The Hongjue Temple is backed by Niushou Mountain and faces Yuntai Mountain. And there are very few tourists, which is very suitable for a leisurely stroll~ Transportation guide: Public transportation route: Bus 755, 869, 853 to Zutangshan Station, walk about 500 meters to the southeast gate of Hongjue Temple You can take a taxi directly to Hongjue Zen Temple (you can drive to the parking lot on the mountain, no need to climb the mountain anymore) and you can park for free!! Vegetarian strategy: It starts around 11 o'clock (if you go late, there will be none) The vegetarian meal is 10 yuan per person, with three dishes and one soup, remember not to serve too much to avoid waste. Draw lots: You can draw lots in the Three Saints Hall, and there are masters to interpret the lots~ It's very accurate for seeking wealth and marriage! But remember, sincerity is the spirit This place is far away from the hustle and bustle of the city and the flow of people, very suitable for emptying and relaxing~

🌿🏯Jiangnan Water Village, a journey to find ancient temples for blessings🕌 In this misty season, I came to the water town of Jiangnan, looking for ancient temples hidden among the mountains and rivers. 🏞️🌳 🏯Hongjue Temple is so huge that you need to calm down and walk around slowly to feel its charm. 🔍🚶‍♂️ Here, you can stroll among the green mountains and waters and enjoy the picturesque scenery. 🖼️🌊 🎐Four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasties, feel the tranquility and mystery in the landscape painting🙏 There are 480 temples in the Southern Dynasties, and Jiangnan has been a popular place for temples since ancient times. 🏛️🏯 Here, you can feel the ancient people's reverence for mountains and rivers, and you can also make a wish and pray for peace and good fortune. 🙏🌟 🍀Explore the secrets of Hongjue Temple, stroll slowly, and savor the charm of the ancient temple in Jiangnan🍃 During the misty rain in the south of the Yangtze River, the incense here is at its peak. 🎋🌹 Here, you can feel the wisdom and faith of the ancients, and you can also find inner peace here. 🍃🧘‍♀️ 💫The landscape scene brings back the beautiful time of the Southern Dynasty, making wishes and praying🌈 In this beautiful place, you can feel the ancients' love for mountains and rivers, and you can also make wishes and pray for a better future. 🌈🌟