Leave the city streets behind and spend an hour or two in the company of the monks at the Jade Buddha Temple.
Named after its two jade Buddha statues which were brought to the city by a Monk from Burma in the 1800s, the Jade Buddha Temple is an important spiritual centre in western Shanghai. It houses a collection of valuable Buddha relics as well as thousands of significant Sutras, or scriptures.The Sitting Buddha resides in the aptly named Jade Buddha Tower. Covered in a dazzling jewelled coating of emeralds and agate, this statue is believed to show the Buddha as he achieves enlightenment through meditation. Take a moment to consider the statue in all its glittering glory, before you explore the other treasures housed in the tower.The second jade Buddha can be found reclining on a polished mahogany divan in the Recumbent Buddha Hall. Made from smooth white jade, he wears an expression of deep contentment which is believed to display the inner peace he achieved as he transcended the mortal realm. Other important Buddhas within the Temple complex include the grand Recumbent Buddha who shares a chamber with his white jade counterpart, and the Three Golden Buddhas that can be found in the Main Hall.If you fancy a bite to eat, the temple is home to a restaurant which is renowned for its mushroom noodles. It has a gift shop which is also worth a look, selling religious charms and other keepsakes.To get to the Jade Buddha Temple, just walk the short distance from Changshou Park or Changshou Lu underground station. There is a small admission fee which you pay on entry, before being greeted by the chanting of worshippers and the heady scent of incense wafting through the air. This is a working temple, so be aware that you must enter respectfully and not reach for your camera as photography is not allowed.
