Prajna Temple

At four o'clock in the afternoon, Xishuangbanna is still bathed in intense sunlight. I took the hotel shuttle to visit the nearby Prajna Temple. The history of Prajna Temple is long-standing, with its initial construction dating back to the year 833 AD. It has been renovated multiple times throughout history, with the most recent renovation taking place in 2014. The stupa's core is 122 elbows deep (approximately 8.5 meters), and it is said to enshrine two strands of Buddha's hair. Unlike the yellow walls and green tiles of Han Chinese Buddhist temples or the splendid gold and glitter of typical Theravada Buddhist temples, Prajna Temple is known by netizens as the pure white stupa closest to the sky, with its exquisite and magnificent design. The silver stupa, set against the backdrop of blue sky and white clouds, appears solemn and sacred. It stands out among the many temples in Jinghong, making it incredibly photogenic and a popular spot for social media check-ins. Prajna Temple is not very large, and besides the beautiful silver-white stupa, there is also a red Dai-style hall, which is quite empty inside. Prajna Temple offers free admission, and half an hour is enough to tour the entire site. Be mindful of dressing modestly.