The Spring of Temples

- Zhihua Temple: Located at the north of Lumicang East Entrance Road in Dongcheng District, Beijing, it is one of the first batch of ancient architectural heritage conservation units in Beijing and a national key cultural relic protection unit. Zhihua Temple was built in the eighth year of the Zhengtong era (1443) by Wang Zhen, a eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial during the early Ming Dynasty, modeled after the Tang and Song Dynasties' 'Garana Seven Halls' system. Initially a private temple, it was later named 'Baoying Zhihua Temple'. Its architectural beams, brackets, colored paintings, carvings, and statues are intact, making it a rare architectural relic that has completely preserved the spatial characteristics of the Ming Dynasty. - Fayuan Temple: Located on the east side of the southern end of Jiaozihu Tong, outside Xuanwumen, Beijing, it was built in the nineteenth year of the Zhenguan era of Emperor Taizong of Tang (645 AD), making it the oldest famous temple in Beijing. Fayuan Temple was known as Minzhong Temple during the Tang Dynasty, and was renovated and renamed to its current name during the Yongzheng era of the Qing Dynasty. In 1956, the China Buddhist Academy was established within the temple, and in 1980, the China Buddhist Library and Museum was built inside the temple. It is a religious museum affiliated with the Buddhist Association of China. Fayuan Temple Zhihua Temple