Daci Temple has a history of over 1,600 years and was anciently known as “the First Buddhist Jungle in Cathay”.
Daci Temple is famous for its murals. Artists such as Wu Daozi in the Tang Dynasty, Li Sheng in the Former Shu Dynasty, and Huang Quan in the Later Shu Dynasty all created murals here. The temple also houses a rich collection of stele inscriptions and calligraphy works. Su Shi praised it as “exquisite beyond compare in the world”.
According to records, the famous monk Master Xuanzang in the Tang Dynasty once received ordination and gave lectures here. There is a small Xuanzang Memorial Hall within the temple.
Historically, Daci Temple was once of grand scale. The Daci Temple seen today was rebuilt in the Qing Dynasty. The stone plaque “Ancient Great Sage Daci Temple” above the Mountain Gate Hall was inscribed in the sixth year of the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, over 120 years ago. On the stone pillars of each hall, there are couplets written by famous scholars in the Qing Dynasty such as Gu Fuchu.
There are also vegetarian restaurants and teahouses in Daci Temple. Chunxi Road can be reached on foot from here.
Opening hours: It is open from 08:00 to 21:00 throughout the year.
