Wukang Road
Shanghai, China
Jing'an Temple, Shanghai
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Photo: Chainwit., CC BY 4.0, Wikimedia CommonsFit in nearby today
The essentials in 10 seconds
- Ticket
- About ¥50; up to about ¥100 on major holidays
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Hours
- Daily ≈ 7:30–17:00, last entry ≈ 16:30
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Time on site
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A typical visit without queueing. In high season add 15–30 minutes. - 40 min
- With kids
- Fine with kids
- Address
- 1686 West Nanjing Road (南京西路1686号), Jing'an District
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Metro
- Jing'an Temple, Lines 2, 7 and 14 — Exit 1 for the gate
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Buying
- Ticket booth at the West Nanjing Road gate, no booking needed
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Payment
- Cash in yuan, Alipay or WeChat Pay (link a foreign Visa/Mastercard)
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From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go. - Photos
- Fine in the courtyard; in the halls follow the signs, no flash
verifyingi
From reliable travel sources; we are still checking it against an official one. Double-check before you go.
Key facts
AD 247founded in the Wu kingdom of the Three Kingdoms period
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English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia: Jing'an Temple≈ ¥50adult incense-and-flower ticket
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unofficial: Wanderin China, China For Travelers, TravelChinaGuide3 linesof metro under the temple: Jing'an Temple station, Lines 2, 7 and 14
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English Wikipedia: Jing'an Temple station1216the temple moved from the bank of Suzhou Creek to its present site
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English, Russian and Chinese Wikipedia15 tweight of the silver Buddha in the main hall
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English WikipediaChina For Travelers≈ 3.8 mheight of the seated jade Buddha, among the largest in China
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English and Russian Wikipedia (3.8 m)Chinese Wikipedia (3.87 m)3.5 tweight of the Ming-dynasty bronze bell from the Hongwu reign
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English and Russian Wikipedia6.2 mcamphor-wood statue of Guanyin, about 5 t
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English and Russian Wikipedia1953Master Chisong re-established the Esoteric school here
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English and Chinese Wikipedia静安寺Chinese name — “Temple of Peace and Tranquillity”
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English and Chinese WikipediaJing'an Temple tickets and entrance fee
An adult ticket costs about ¥50. It is sold as an incense-and-flower ticket, and guides say it comes with a bundle of three incense sticks. Wanderin China, China For Travelers and TravelChinaGuide all quote the same figure; the temple’s own website shows only a link to WeChat, so we mark the price as being checked.
There is nothing to book ahead: the booth is at the gate on West Nanjing Road, and the temple also sells tickets through its WeChat mini-program. Over Chinese New Year and on big festivals the price reportedly rises to around ¥100, and that is also when the queue appears. Discounts for children, students and seniors are described differently by every source, so don’t count on one.
Payment: the booth takes cash, Alipay and WeChat Pay. Most visitors link a Visa or Mastercard to Alipay before flying in; it covers the ticket, incense and the coins people toss into the burners.
Jing'an Temple opening hours
The temple opens every day, roughly 7:30–17:00, with last entry around 16:30. That is what English Wikipedia, Wanderin China and China For Travelers say; TravelChinaGuide gives 18:00 for closing, and one checklist mentions an 8:30 opening. Treat the last hour as unreliable and arrive by mid-afternoon.
On the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, the traditional incense days, TravelChinaGuide says the gates open much earlier, at about 4:30. The courtyard then fills with worshippers and smoke — crowded, but the most authentic time to see the temple. Weekday mornings are quietest; weekend middays are the busiest.
How to get to Jing'an Temple
Step-by-step directions are below; the map shows where you arrive.
Where are you starting from?
We’ll draw it on the map on foot and by taxi; metro and buses open in your maps app. Your location isn’t stored.
More tips
- From the Bund, walk up pedestrian Nanjing Road to East Nanjing Road station and take Line 2 west, towards Hongqiao.
- Ride 3 stops — People's Square, West Nanjing Road, Jing'an Temple — and get off at Jing'an Temple. About 10 minutes on the train.
- Take Exit 1: the temple gate is roughly 50–60 m away on West Nanjing Road. Door to door from the Bund is about 25–30 minutes.
- Lines 7 and 14 also stop here, handy from other parts of the city. A DiDi from the Bund covers about 5 km as the crow flies — show the driver 静安寺.
- Coming from the Jade Buddha Temple, it is about 2 km south on foot (25–30 minutes), or Line 13 to West Nanjing Road and one stop on Line 2.
Is Jing'an Temple worth visiting?
Yes, if you are on Nanjing Road anyway. It sits right on top of a metro hub, and gilded roofs against glass towers make one of Shanghai’s defining pictures. Forty minutes to an hour covers the halls; give it up to ninety if you like to linger in the courtyard.
Skip it if you have already seen several big Buddhist temples in China and only want one in Shanghai. Then the Jade Buddha Temple is the better pick: it is free, and its seated jade Buddha is the real treasure. Jing’an wins on location and shine, but almost everything you see was built or refinished from the 1980s onwards.
You can also enjoy it for free from outside. The view of the roofs from the streets and footbridges around the junction is lovely at dusk; unofficial guides say the lighting doesn’t run every night, so don’t plan around it.
What to see inside
- Main Hall (Mahavira Hall) — a silver Buddha weighing about 15 tonnes, flanked by rows of silver bodhisattvas and disciples. A service is often under way, so step in quietly.
- Jade Buddha hall — a seated Buddha about 3.8 m tall, carved from jade and described as one of the largest seated jade Buddhas in China.
- Guanyin hall — the goddess of mercy carved from camphor wood, 6.2 m tall and about 5 tonnes.
- Ming-dynasty bell — a 3.5-tonne bronze bell from the reign of the first Ming emperor, Hongwu, rung only on special occasions.
- Gilded pagoda, completed in 2010 — best seen from the upper galleries around the courtyard.
- Courtyard incense burners — people toss coins into the bowls for luck, with the towers of Nanjing Road rising above the golden eaves. This is the shot everyone comes for.
What kind of temple is it?
Jing’an is a working Buddhist monastery, not a museum: monks live here and services run through the day. Its story begins in AD 247, in the Wu kingdom; the first temple stood by Suzhou Creek and moved to this site in 1216. Old Shanghai foreigners called it the Bubbling Well Temple after a spring by the gate.
It burned and was rebuilt several times. During the Cultural Revolution it was closed and used as a factory; reconstruction began in 1984 and it reopened to visitors in 1990. Since 1953, when Master Chisong set up an altar here, it has followed Esoteric (tantric) Buddhism in the Chinese tradition — unlike the Chan school of the nearby Jade Buddha Temple.
Jing'an or Jade Buddha Temple?
| Jing'an Templeyou are here | ≈ ¥50 | ≈ 7:30–17:00 | Gilded roofs among skyscrapers, silver Buddha | Esoteric Buddhism | Jing'an Temple, Lines 2, 7, 14 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jade Buddha Temple | Free; Jade Buddha hall has a small extra fee | 8:00–16:30 | Seated Buddha of Burmese jade | Chan | Jiangning Road, Line 13 |
Jing’an price and hours are unofficial; Jade Buddha Temple hours and free entry come from its official website. The two are about 2 km apart and fit easily into one morning.
Before you go: checklist
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Shanghai temples compared
Temples and shrines in Shanghai rated by YesGo. Tap a column heading to sort.
| Shanghai Old City | 42 | 1 h | Free | 4.2 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| City God Temple | 38 | 30 min | ≈ ¥10 (one guide says free) | 4.5 km |
| Jing'an Templeyou are here | 36 | 40 min | ≈ ¥50 | — |
| Shanghai Jewish Refugees Museum | 36 | 1 h | CNY 20; students 10, 60+ 15 | 7.0 km |
| Jade Buddha Temple | 33 | 45 min | Free | 35 min walk |
| Longhua Temple | 29 | 45 min | ≈ ¥10 (one guide says free) | 5.4 km |
From the temple to the Bund along Nanjing Road
Start at Jing’an in the morning, head east to People’s Square, then walk pedestrian Nanjing Road to the Bund. Add them to your route — YesGo fits in the timing and transfers.
- Jing'an Templeyou are here40 min · ≈ ¥50
- 50 min walk from the previous stopPeople's Square30 min · Free
- 10 min walk from the previous stopNanjing Road1 h · Free
- 20 min walk from the previous stopThe Bund1 h · Free
4 places · about 4 h 30 min with walks · 80 min on foot in total
Nearby — add to your day
Jade Buddha Temple
Shanghai, China
How to do it right
- Come at opening on a weekday — the courtyard is calm and the morning sun lights up the gold roofs.
- Use Exit 1 of Jing'an Temple station; the station is huge, and other exits can leave you a block away.
- Afterwards, walk east along West Nanjing Road or ride Line 2 to People's Square and Nanjing Road.
- Pair it with the Jade Buddha Temple, 2 km north, which opens at 8:00.
- Bring a few coins — people toss them into the incense burners for luck.
- Google Maps and search are blocked in China without a VPN or roaming eSIM — save 静安寺 and an offline map.
Questions
How much is the Jing'an Temple entrance fee?
About ¥50 for adults, rising to around ¥100 over Chinese New Year and major festivals. These are unofficial figures — the temple doesn’t publish prices on its website.
What are Jing'an Temple's opening hours?
Daily, roughly 7:30–17:00, last entry around 16:30. One guide says it closes at 18:00, so don’t rely on the final hour.
Which metro station is closest?
Jing'an Temple station on Lines 2, 7 and 14 — the temple sits directly above it. Use Exit 1.
How do I get there from the Bund?
Walk to East Nanjing Road station, take Line 2 west for 3 stops to Jing'an Temple. About 25–30 minutes door to door.
Is Jing'an Temple worth visiting?
Yes if you are on Nanjing Road: it is right on the metro and the gold-on-glass view is unique. If you only want one temple, the free Jade Buddha Temple has the more remarkable statues.
How long should I spend there?
40–60 minutes for the halls and courtyard; up to 90 if you take your time.
Can you take photos inside?
In the courtyard, yes. In the halls, follow the signs, never use flash and don’t photograph monks during chanting.
Do I need to book in advance?
No. Buy at the booth by the gate; the temple’s WeChat mini-program also sells tickets.
Is there a dress code?
Nothing strictly enforced, but cover shoulders and knees — it is an active monastery.
Have you been? Was it worth your time?
1 — no, 5 — absolutely
Your vote counts towards the YesGo score.
Sources and fact-check
- English Wikipedia: Jing'an Temple; Jing'an Temple station; Russian Wikipedia: Цзинъаньсы; Chinese Wikipedia: 静安寺; Wikidata Q403189
- Wanderin China, March 2026 — price, holiday price, hours, ticket booth and payment, metro exits
- China For Travelers, September 2026 — price, hours and last entry, silver Buddha, photo and dress rules
- TravelChinaGuide — price, hours, incense days, metro Exit 1
- Jade Buddha Temple official website — hours and the 2023 notice ending its entry ticket (for comparison)
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