The Wenshu Monastery Scenic Area is a central leisure and tourism zone in Chengdu, covering over 300,000 square meters. This area is anchored by the renowned Wenshu Monastery, one of the most famous Buddhist temples in Sichuan. The scenic area features traditional Sichuan architecture, ancient buildings, historical temple ruins, and folk landscapes, creating a vibrant cultural atmosphere.
Wenshu Monastery is celebrated as one of the “Four Great Forests” of Western Sichuan and is known for its strong religious significance and popularity among visitors. The temple complex has a clear layout, with its key structures aligned along a central axis. These include the Heavenly King Hall, the Three Great Bodhisattva Halls, the Mahavira Hall, the Teaching Hall, and the Sutra Collection Pavilion, along with accompanying structures like the Bell and Drum Towers, Zen Hall, and Viewing Hall.
This scenic area integrates Buddhist culture, tourism, dining, leisure, and shopping, offering visitors a multifaceted urban experience. It showcases the rich cultural heritage and customs of old Chengdu, reflecting its local lifestyle and traditions. Visitors can enjoy the serene environment, savor delicious vegetarian cuisine, and explore various shops, making it a perfect destination for relaxation and cultural immersion.
Travel Information about Wenshu Monastery
Ticket and Opening Hours
Ticket Price: Free
Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Best Time to Visit
The Wenshu Monastery area comes alive during the Spring Festival with its vibrant temple fairs. Every year during this time, the area hosts a celebration known as the “Five Deities Paying New Year Greetings.” Experts from the Poetry and Couplets Association create and present calligraphy works, writing Spring Festival couplets on-site to bless the community.
Getting to the Scenic Area
Location: 66 Wenshu Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu
Public Transport: Take Metro Line 1 to Wenshu Monastery Station.
Attraction Ratings
- Cultural Experience: ★★★★
- Leisure Activities: ★★★★
- Distinctiveness: ★★★
- Scenic Beauty: ★★
- Romance: ★★
- Adventure: ★
Highlights of Wenshu Monastery Scenic Area
Tianwang Hall (Heavenly King Hall)
Tianwang Hall (天王殿) is the first hall of Wenshu Monastery. Inside the hall, the main statue features Maitreya Buddha, depicted with a rounded face and a bare belly, exuding a cheerful demeanor. Above the statue, the words “Dou Shua Tuo Tian” are inscribed in large characters.
On either side of the statue, there are guardians of the mountain gate, known as the Heng Ha Er Jiang. These figures include the Northern Dhritarashtra, holding a pearl umbrella; the Southern Virudhaka, wielding a glowing blue sword; the Western Vaishravana, with a purple gold dragon snake; and the Eastern Guardian, holding a jade pipa. Each character is vividly shaped and displays lifelike expressions.
Flanking Tianwang Hall to the east and west are the Bell Tower and Drum Tower. The Bell Tower houses the impressive “Youming Bell,” which stands two meters tall, is two meters wide, and weighs over 2,200 kilograms. Behind the bell, there is a statue of the Earth Goddess, further enhancing the spiritual ambiance of the hall.
San Da Shi Hall (Three Great Masters Hall)
San Da Shi Hall (三大士殿) is located behind Tianwang Hall and was built in the 36th year of the Kangxi era (1697). At the entrance of the hall, there is a couplet that reads: the upper line states, “Once seen, act; once acted, let go; what is there to hold on to?” and the lower line says, “Wisdom arises from awareness; awareness arises from freedom; what is born is still without birth.”
Inside the hall, the central figure is Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin), the Bodhisattva of Compassion. To her left is Samantabhadra, depicted riding a six-tusked white elephant and holding a wish-fulfilling scepter. On her right is Manjushri, the Bodhisattva of Wisdom.
At the back of the hall, on the left side, stands a statue of Guan Yu, a revered warrior deity, while on the right side is a statue of Wenchang, the deity of literature. This unique arrangement brings together both martial and literary figures, making this hall a significant space that embodies the dual excellence of both disciplines.
Mahavira Hall (Hall of Great Hero)
Mahavira Hall, also known as the Hall of Great Hero, is the main hall of Wenshu Monastery and serves as a place of worship for the monastery’s high monks. At the entrance of the hall, a character for “福 fortune” is engraved above the doors, polished to a golden sheen by the many visitors who have touched it for blessings. Inside the hall, the central figure is Shakyamuni Buddha, flanked by his two prominent disciples, Ananda and Kasyapa. The entire hall exudes an ancient simplicity and purity, filled with the resonating sounds of Buddhist chants.
Behind Mahavira Hall, there is a guest hall and a dining area. The dining hall features a sign that reads “味道餐风 Taste the Flavor of Dining.” A couplet inside says, “Each bowl and each meal are offerings from the faithful; how can one casually eat here? In the morning and evening, we look up to the Buddha, nurturing ourselves and each other, fostering mindfulness.” At the foot of the hall, there is a coin-printing stone. According to local legend, if one makes a wish and presses a coin onto the stone, and it doesn’t fall off, it is said that the wish will be granted soon.
Related Details:
- Wenshu Monastery Vegetarian Restaurant is a well-known establishment that specializes in vegetarian cuisine. The menu is extensive and clearly lists the ingredients, spice levels, and flavors of each dish. The restaurant is particularly renowned for its imitation meat dishes, which are skillfully crafted to closely resemble both the appearance and taste of meat. One standout dish is the Spicy Chicken Cubes, which is generously coated in red chili oil and sprinkled with white sesame seeds. The tofu-based “meat” has a firm texture, making it a must-try for visitors.
- Behind the Mahavira Hall, under the eaves, there used to be two ancient cypress trees from the Five Dynasties period, which were quite historic. In the twelfth year of the Tongzhi era (1873), a multi-sided “Namo Victorious Dharma Text Stele” was erected between the two cypress trees to commemorate the achievements of Master Cidou. Together, the stele and the two cypress trees formed the “Second View of Empty Forest” in Wenshu Monastery, symbolizing the auspiciousness of the twin trees. Unfortunately, in the 1960s and 70s, both ancient cypress trees were destroyed and have since been replaced by two ginkgo trees.
Shuofa Hall (Hall of Teaching)
The Hall of Teaching (说法堂) is located behind the Three Great Masters Hall, and at the entrance stands a lion that appears to be attentively listening to teachings, a sculpture cast during the Tang Dynasty. Its expression is adorable and sincere, as if completely engrossed in the discourse.
Inside the hall, the main Buddha statue represents Wenshu Monastery’s “Third View of Empty Forest,” titled “Light Erupting from the Caves.” The Buddha is draped in a light veil, exuding an aura of solemnity and grace.
The hall houses a total of 85 statues that have been preserved from various dynasties, including 10 guardian deities, 1 Medicine Buddha, and 12 Yaksha generals. Flanking the hall are the Eighteen Arhats and the Twenty-Four Heavenly Beings, which are considered precious treasures of sculptural art in China.
Thousand Buddha Tower
Located to the east of the main buildings of Wenshu Monastery, the Thousand Buddha Tower (千佛塔) is a hexagonal structure consisting of 11 tiers. It stands at a height of 21 meters, with the tower itself reaching 15.2 meters and weighing 27 tons. The tower is adorned with 999 relief sculptures of Buddha, along with a central bronze statue of Shakyamuni Buddha on the ground floor, bringing the total to 1,000, which is how it got its name.
The tower walls are inscribed with various scriptures, including the Avatamsaka Sutra and the Lotus Sutra, as well as the reasons for the tower’s construction. Its eaves are embellished with 66 small green dragons, each fitted with bells that chime melodiously in the breeze.
Beneath the tower lies a crypt that houses precious Buddhist artifacts. The top of the tower is made of bronze, covered with genuine gold leaf, creating a magnificent sight. The former president of the Chinese Buddhist Association, Zhao Puchu, wrote the couplet “The grandeur of the Thousand Buddhas appears layer upon layer, protecting peace for thousands of years” and inscribed the sign “千佛 和平塔 Thousand Buddha Peace Tower,” which is placed on the tower.
Wenshu Lane
Wenshu Lane (文殊坊) is a scenic area built around traditional residences from the Sichuan region, featuring a variety of courtyard styles, including two-entry courtyards, three-sided courtyards, and siheyuan (quadrangle) layouts.
The architecture showcases typical characteristics of Sichuan residences, such as gray brick walls, black tiles, intricately carved beams, bright red doors, flower-adorned doorways, eaves with dripping tiles, stone-paved floors, ornate window grilles, and black nanmu (southern pine) pillars. Wenshu Lane not only recreates the essence of old Chengdu’s neighborhood texture but also embodies the prominent courtyard culture found in Sichuan architecture.
Today, many businesses that highlight Chengdu’s unique commercial culture have emerged in this area. At the end of Wenshu Street, a right turn leads you into a charming collection of ancient-style buildings housing numerous shops, which is known as Wenshu Lane Food Street. This food street offers a wide variety of delicious snacks at affordable prices, providing excellent value for money.
Eight Treasures of the Empty Forest
Wenshu Monastery, historically known as Xianxiang Temple, was rebuilt in 1697 during the Kangxi Emperor’s reign and renamed “Wenshu Monastery.” The emperor personally inscribed a plaque that read “Empty Forest,” leading to another name for the monastery, “Empty Forest Hall.”
The “Eight Treasures of the Empty Forest” refers to eight precious artifacts collected by the monastery during the organization of its treasures. These items are considered the monastery’s most significant relics and include:
Mianyu Fukan 缅玉敷龛: A collection of five statues of Burmese jade Buddha.
Shuangshan Biaorui 双杉表瑞: Originally, two ancient cedar trees existed, but only the stupa remains after one was destroyed.
Tianti Zhanbang 天题瞻榜: The plaque inscribed with the characters “Empty Forest” by the Kangxi Emperor, located in the center of the Shuo Fa Hall.
Qunkui Yongguang 群窟涌光: A statue of Shakyamuni Buddha from the Liang Dynasty, currently housed in the Provincial Museum.
Fashiu Pizhen 发绣披珍: A statue of Guanyin (the Bodhisattva of Compassion) embroidered with hair, created by the eldest daughter of Yang Yuchun, a governor from Qing Dynasty Shaanxi.
Shudu Hui Jin 书堵晖金: A silk manuscript of the Diamond Sutra written by the calligrapher Yang Guangqi.
Shehua Youbao 舌华幽宝: A scripture written in blood using four human tongues.
Tianyi Xuancai 田衣绚彩: A thousand-Buddha kasaya (a traditional monastic robe) embroidered by Tian Fei, a favorite concubine of the Chongzhen Emperor.
Visitor Guide for Wenshu Monastery
Local Delicacies
- Wensuyuan (闻酥园) – Wenshu Monastery Branch
- Location: No. 62, Jiangyuan Gongsuo Street, Qingyang District
- Description: An old Chengdu pastry shop known for its delightful puff pastries. The first store opened next to Wenshu Monastery, and due to the local pronunciation of “殊” (shu) and “酥” (su) being similar, it was aptly named. The puffs have a soft, solid outer layer and are incredibly satisfying. The shop is always bustling with customers, often with lines forming outside.
- Yantai Po Guokui (严太婆锅魁) – Wenshu Monastery Branch
- Location: No. 19, Section 3, Renmin Middle Road, Qingyang District
- Description: A popular eatery specializing in Guokui, a traditional pastry from the Guanzhong region of Shaanxi. The Guokui here is freshly made and baked, featuring large flatbreads filled with generous amounts of savory filling. Each customer is limited to purchasing four pieces, ensuring freshness.
- Palace Pastry Shop (宫廷糕点铺) – Wenshu Monastery Main Store
- Location: No. 56, Jiangyuan Gongsuo Street, Qingyang District
- Description: A bustling bakery famous for its peach pastries that are crispy and melt-in-your-mouth. The meat floss rolls are generously filled, and the cake is soft and delicate. With affordable prices, it’s an excellent choice for breakfast or afternoon tea.
- Zhong Shui Jiao (钟水饺) – Wenshu Monastery Branch
- Location: No. 30, Baiyun Temple Street, Qingyang District
- Description: A renowned local snack, Zhong Shui Jiao is a type of dumpling distinct from Northern Chinese dumplings. They are small, with thin, smooth skins and chewy textures. The filling is fresh and flavorful, served in a spicy and sweet red oil broth. Both locals and visitors flock to this spot, conveniently located across from Wenshu Monastery.
What to Do
Wenshu Monastery stands out among many temples for its purity and tranquility. Visitors can partake in various free offerings, including receiving incense to pray, enjoying complimentary vegetarian meals during mealtime, and expressing their worries at a psychological counseling center while listening to Buddhist teachings.
The tea house within the monastery provides a serene and leisurely environment, free from noisy crowds and commercial distractions. Here, visitors can experience the essence of Buddhist tranquility, listening to the soothing sounds of chanting, surrounded by lush greenery, and savoring a fragrant cup of buckwheat tea. This atmosphere fosters a deep sense of comfort and inner peace.
New Year’s Blessing Ceremony: Held from the first to the third day of the lunar new year at the Sutra Repository, thousands of butter lamps are lit in beautiful patterns. Devotees express their wishes for happiness and safety for their families in the coming year.
Guanyin’s Birthday: On the nineteenth day of the second lunar month, a grand light offering ceremony is held, allowing participants to receive Buddha’s blessings and seek peace and harmony for the nation and families.
Buddha’s Birthday: Every year on the eighth day of the fourth lunar month, a grand bathing ceremony is held to celebrate the birthday of Shakyamuni Buddha.
Additionally, Wenshu Monastery conducts a refuge-taking ceremony on the first Sunday of each month in the Hall of Great Hero, where the resident monks invite Master Zhihai to deliver teachings on the significance of taking refuge.