Jing'an Temple: The Most Expensive Temple in China

Most people have an impression of temples as being otherworldly, but in the bustling city center of Shanghai, one of the most expensive cities in the world, is the most expensive temple in China, and perhaps the world: Jing'an Temple. The temple is expensive in the most literal sense of the word, with its land valued at 3 billion yuan and construction costs of 2.8 billion yuan. The temple also houses many precious Buddhist artifacts, including a 15-ton pure silver statue of the Buddha, several 3-ton silver statues, a 2-ton pure gold statue, and a thousand-year-old camphor wood statue of Guanyin. Jing'an Temple has a long history, dating back to the 10th year of the Chiwu era (247) during the Three Kingdoms period. It was renamed Jing'an Temple in the first year of the Dazhong Xiangfu era (1008) during the Song dynasty. In the 9th year of the Jiading era (1216) during the Southern Song dynasty, the temple was moved from the banks of the Wusong River to its current location, meaning it predates the founding of Shanghai. The temple is composed of three main buildings: the Mahavira Hall, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, and the Hall of the Three Saints, and is built in the style of pre-Ming dynasty architecture. Jing'an Temple is surrounded by skyscrapers, so it is recommended to visit in the afternoon, around 3 or 4 pm. The golden sunlight and blue sky reflected in the glass facades of the steel jungle create a magical resonance with the ancient temple. At night, the yellow lights of the temple mix with the scattered lights of the surrounding buildings and the light trails of passing cars, creating a cyberpunk scene.