Religious Buildings Tour (Self Guided), Hangzhou

West Lake Pagoda, also known as Leifeng Pagoda, has a history of more than a thousand years. It was built in 975 during the Wuyue Kingdom under King Qian Chu and was linked to Buddhist worship. Over time, it also became well known through local legends, especially the Legend of the White Snake.

As time passed, the original pagoda suffered from weather damage and poor maintenance. By the early 1900s it was unsafe, and it collapsed in 1924. Later excavations uncovered parts of the original foundation and Buddhist relics, including scripture fragments and ritual items, which helped guide its later rebuilding.

The pagoda seen today was completed and reopened in 2002. It keeps the traditional five-story shape but is built with modern materials like steel and reinforced concrete, making it much stronger and safer. Inside, visitors can find clear displays that explain the pagoda’s history, the excavation results, and its place in local legends. Some sections have glass floors that allow visitors to look down at the preserved remains of the old foundation.

From the upper levels, visitors can enjoy open views of the lake, surrounding hills, and nearby scenery. The calm setting and the mix of old stories with modern design help visitors understand how history, belief, and landscape are closely connected in this place.

Qian Wang Temple honors Qian Liu, a ruler from the late Tang and Five Dynasties periods. In the early 10th century, he founded the Kingdom of Wuyue, which remained stable while much of China faced conflict. He is remembered for protecting local communities, supporting trade, and reducing the impact of warfare. The temple was later built to recognize his role in the region’s early development.

The temple complex is simple and well organized, with open courtyards leading along a central path to the main hall. The buildings use traditional materials such as wood, stone, and tiled roofs. Inside, a statue shows Qian Liu as a civil ruler, while nearby stone tablets record key events from his life and titles granted by later dynasties.

Exhibits and panels explain how Qian Liu invested in water control and coastal defenses to reduce flooding and protect farmland. These projects supported farming, trade, and daily life. The temple also reflects his support for Buddhism, which influenced local religious traditions. Today, the site is quiet and easy to explore, giving visitors time to learn about this period of history at a relaxed pace.

The Confucian Temple, also known as the former prefectural school, stands on a site with over 1,300 years of history dating back to the Tang dynasty. It became important during the Southern Song period, around 1131–1132, when it served as the Lin’an Prefectural School. For centuries, it worked as both a Confucian temple and an academy for keju exam candidates. The complex seen today mainly reflects Qing dynasty design and restoration completed in 2008.

The layout follows a clear central axis, common in Confucian schools. Visitors pass through gates and courtyards, including the Lingxing Gate and the Panchi, a crescent-shaped pond linked to learning and exams. At the center is the Dacheng Hall, the main ceremonial building, with a statue of Confucius and a double-eaved roof, once used for official rituals and academic events.

One of the most notable features is the Stone Tablet Forest, which contains more than 500 stone inscriptions. These include parts of the Southern Song Stone Scripture and tablets naming scholars who passed the highest imperial exams. Together, they show the site’s strong link to learning and public service. Today, the area is quiet, with signs explaining its role in traditional education and Confucian thought.

Dong Yue Temple is a Taoist religious site dedicated to Dongyue Dadi, the deity associated with Mount Tai and the order of the human world. The temple reflects long-standing Taoist beliefs about life, death, and moral balance. Its origins date back several centuries, and although parts of the complex have been rebuilt over time, it continues to function as a place of worship rather than a museum setting.

The temple follows a traditional layout, with courtyards and halls arranged along a central axis. Red wooden buildings, stone steps, and tiled roofs give the complex a clear structure. Inside, statues of Taoist deities represent fate, health, justice, and the afterlife, while some halls focus on moral judgment and the link between one’s actions and future outcomes. Wall carvings and inscriptions present these ideas in a visual and easy-to-follow way.

The atmosphere is generally quiet, with local worshippers lighting incense, bowing, or praying for family well-being and good fortune. Visitors may walk through the grounds at a slow pace and observe daily religious practices. The temple offers insight into Taoist views on balance and responsibility, as well as traditional Chinese temple design. Modest clothing and respectful behavior are expected, especially near active prayer areas.

Yaowang Temple is a small historic temple linked to traditional Chinese medicine. It is dedicated to the Medicine King, a title often connected to Sun Simiao, a Tang dynasty doctor who lived from 581 to 682 AD. He was known for his medical writings and ethical ideas, and people came here to pray for health and recovery.

The site has a layered history. It was first built during the Song dynasty to honor Zhang Sen, a local figure known for clearing markets of poisonous plants and scorpions. Later, the temple was linked to Sun Simiao and became associated with medicine and healing. The buildings seen today come from later periods, with a major restoration completed in 1997.

The temple is quiet and easy to walk through, with small courtyards, stone paths, and wooden halls with tiled roofs. Inside are statues and carvings of medical figures such as Sun Simiao, Bian Que, and the mythical Shennong. Today, locals come to light incense, while visitors can learn how medicine and belief were part of everyday life.

Chenghuang Temple is a Taoist site dedicated to the City God, believed to protect the local community and daily life. The temple is often linked to the Southern Song period (1127–1279), when it became important locally. Records show the main buildings were built in 1371, during the early Ming dynasty. Although rebuilt over time, it has remained both a religious site and a public space.

The layout is traditional, with wooden halls placed along a central line. Inside, visitors find incense burners, offering tables, and statues of Taoist deities. Decoration is simple, using painted beams, carved wood, red lanterns, and calligraphy plaques. On normal days, the temple feels calm, while during festivals it becomes more active as more people come to burn incense and make offerings.

The main temple buildings sit below Chenghuang Pavilion on Wushan Hill and are used daily by locals and visitors. People stop to pray, burn incense, or rest. The pavilion above was rebuilt in the 1990s, stands 41.6 meters tall, and follows a traditional style, with murals and stone reliefs showing local history and legends such as the Legend of the White Snake. Around the temple, small shops and food stalls sell tea, snacks, incense, and souvenirs, keeping the area active during the day.

Leifeng Pagoda stands on a small hill near a large lake and has been part of local life for more than a thousand years. The first pagoda was built in 975, during the time of the Wuyue Kingdom. It was connected to Buddhist practice and was supported by the royal family. Over the centuries, the pagoda also became closely linked to local legends, especially the famous Legend of the White Snake, which helped keep its story alive even after the building was lost.

The original pagoda slowly fell into poor condition and finally collapsed in 1924. Later excavations found parts of the old foundation and several Buddhist relics, including scripture pieces and ritual items. Using this evidence, the pagoda was rebuilt and reopened to the public in 2002. The new structure keeps the traditional five-story shape but is made with modern materials such as steel and reinforced concrete. This makes it safer and more stable while still looking like a classic pagoda from the outside.

Inside, the space is simple and easy to follow. Information panels explain the history of the site, the legends connected to it, and how the rebuilding was done. In some areas, glass floors allow visitors to look down at the remains of the original foundation. Elevators and stairs lead to higher levels, where large windows provide clear views of the lake, nearby bridges, and surrounding hills.

The pagoda is easy to explore at a relaxed pace. It offers a mix of history, legend, and scenery without feeling overwhelming. Visitors are expected to behave quietly, especially on the lower levels where the site still holds religious meaning.

Jingci Temple is a Buddhist temple with a long and continuous history. It was founded in 954, during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. Over time, the temple was damaged and rebuilt several times because of fires and conflicts, which was common for large religious sites in China. It became especially important during the Southern Song dynasty, when it developed into a key place for Chan (Zen) Buddhism, attracting monks, scholars, and followers from different regions.

The temple follows a traditional linear layout, leading visitors through gates and courtyards to the central halls. The Hall of the Heavenly Kings marks the entrance to the sacred space, while the Mahavira Hall houses the primary statues for worship. The simple wooden architecture and tiled roofs create a calm, orderly atmosphere.

The temple features a well-known, centuries-old bronze bell, struck traditionally at dawn and dusk, whose sound carries across the area. The grounds offer serene views of the hills and water, aligning with Buddhist principles of balance and reflection. It remains an active monastery, welcoming visitors outside prayer times, who are expected to dress modestly and maintain quiet.