Jile Temple

Hours & Admission Price Peak Season
Jan.-Dec.
08:00-16:00
10 Low Season
Jan.-Dec.
08:00-16:00
10 Address & Phone at the end of Dongdazhi Avenue, Nangang District, Harbin City Transportation Take bus NO.104,105,14. Notes

Along with Banrou Temple in Changchun, Ci’en Temple in Shenyang and Lengyan Temple in Yingkou, Jile Temple is the holy land in northern China for Buddhists to pray and worship.

Located at the end of Dongdazhi Avenue (East Straight Avenue) of Nangang District in Harbin, Jile Temple is regarded as one of four well-known temples in Northeast China. Along with Banrou Temple in Changchun, Ci’en Temple in Shenyang and Lengyan Temple in Yingkou, Jile Temple is the holy land in northern China for Buddhists to pray and worship.

Covering an area of 57,000 square meters, the temple was built in 1923 by Master Yanxu, a famous disciple of the Tiantai Buddhist clan. The layout and structure of buildings are strictly based on the Chinese Buddhist style. The temple faces south. When entering the gate, visitors can see Drum Tower and Bell Tower standing on two side of the road respectively. At every sunrise and sunset, the monks will beat the drum and the bell of two towers for asking the other monks to do their morning and the afternoon worships.

The temple consists of three parts: main courtyard, west courtyard and east courtyard. With an area of 1800 square meters, the main courtyard covers four halls including Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Great Buddha’s Hall, Hall of Three Holies and Scripture-stored Tower. In the middle of the Hall of Heavenly Kings, there is statue of Maitreya Buddha that guarded by four Heavenly Kings. The Great Buddha’s Hall in the main courtyard is the largest one in the temple and worships Shakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism.

Seven-storey Stupas

A Seven-storey Stupa stands in the east courtyard facing south. It is a octagonal brick pagoda that built in 1924 with a total height of 37 meters. At the bottom of the pagoda is a large hall with Buddhist statues.

Pagoda is the typical structure of Buddhism. It is said that after Sakyamuni died at the age of 80, his disciples buried his body and found some glittering pearls in the ash, which is called Buddha’s relics. They buried his relics and built a pagoda to protect it. Since then, pagoda has become a symbol of Buddhism.

Stone Lions

In front of the Great Buddha’s Hall, there are two stone lions that are the ruins of Tang Dynasty (618-907). Legend has it that the two stone lions were placed in a Prince House. After absorbing the essence of the sun and the moon, the two stone lions became goblins that always stole food. In order to control the two lions, they were placed in the present point.

Buddhist festivals are held in the Ji Le Temple on every 8th, 18th and 28th of lunar April. Visitors from both home and abroad are attracted to take part in these Massive rites and celebrations.

Harbin Culture