Great Bell Temple

Hours & Admission Price Peak Season
Jan.-Dec.
09:00-16:30
10 Low Season
Jan.-Dec.
09:00 -16:30
10 Address & Phone No 31 of West Road of Northern Third Ring, Beijing, China Transportation Take Subway Line 13 and get off at Dazhongsi Station. Walk out from Exit A and walk northwest.
Take Bus No. 87, 88, 361, 422, 425, 604, 658, 695, 718, 617  Notes closed on Monday, stop ticketing at 16:00

Well known for housing the largest bell in China, Great Bell Temple is now a museum specializing in ancient bells with a collection of 418 bells from China and abroad.

Great Bell Temple, originally named the Temple of Awakening, is located on the western outskirts of Beijing in Haidian District. The temple was initially built in 1733 as a Buddhist temple for the emperor to pray for the rain. In 1743, a big bell was placed in the temple and it was called Great Bell Temple since then. After the museum was established at here, the temple still has a temple fair every year around the Spring Festival.

The Big Bell

The bell is also called Yongle Bell as it was casted in Yongle Era (1403-1424) in Ming Dynasty. Nicknamed as King of Bell, it is 6.75 meters high and weighs 46.6 tons. Both the bell’s inside and outside is carved with inscription of Buddhist Mantras. The bell’s musical sound can spread 50 kilometers away in the deep night.

The Bell Tower housing this great bell is a two-storey building and the bell is hung up with a 1-meter-long and 6-centimeter wide copper pin. The above floor is round while the bottom is square, indicating traditional concept that heaven is round and earth is square. In ancient times, the bell was not allowed to ring unless Spring Festival or when the emperors prayed for rain.

At the Spring Festival, people usually ring the bells 108 times with the meaning of a year in Chinese lunar calendar. According to the calendar, there are 12 months, 24 solar terms and 72 hou (5 days a hou) in a year and the sum of the three figures is 108. In addition, in Buddhism 108 means the 108 kinds troubles for human beings. So people ring the bell for 108 times, hoping it can bring people’s troubles away.

Great Bell Museum

The museum has a collection of 418 bells from China and abroad and it is the only museum dedicated to bells in China. The former Hall of Heavenly King displays the history of the Big Bell. The Mahavira Hall contains a replica of the famous chime bell with 65 bells in three layers. You have the opportunity to appreciate both the Chinese and foreign music and songs played by it.

In addition to the above exhibition areas, there are several others devoted to different themes such as bells in Ming and Qing Dynasties, bells from foreign countries as well as casting of bells. Over 40 pieces of ancient bells are placed in the nine pavilions of the eastern courtyard. The oldest one with a history of over 600 years can be traced back to Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Temple Fair

Every year, a temple fair is held from lunar January 1 to January 15. The fair is so popular that it is one of the eight traditional temple fairs in Beijing. During the period, visitors can find various traditional handcrafts, enjoy delicious local snacks, appreciate marvelous performances and take part in interesting activities such as throwing a coin through the little hole in the bell to wish good luck in next year.

 

Beijing Culture