Don’t make The Great Wall and The Terracotta Museum the only historic stops on your Chinese vacation. The country’s beautiful temples also shouldn’t be missed. China has so many temples you’d be hard pressed to see them all, but the following sites should make any tourist’s itinerary.
Lingyin Temple, or Temple of the Soul’s Retreat, in Hangzhou is the largest temple in China. This tranquil spot also houses one of the country’s largest statues of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism, and a massive collection of Buddhist relics. Due to its size it can become very crowded during peak season, so be prepared to jostle your way through its many halls. Admission costs 30 yuan, or a little less than $5 US.
Beijing’s Temple of Heaven is one of the Chinese capitals most recognizable sites, as its image appears in many of the city’s tourist brochures and postcards. Most folks admiring the architecture don’t realize that the buildings actually had a more important historic purpose. Ancient Ming and Qing emperors would come here to offer sacrifices and pray for plentiful harvests. The complex is three times the size of the famous Forbidden City, so you can easily spend a whole day here, especially if you’re spending a lot of time snapping photos of its magnificent architecture. Admission costs 35 yuan, or a little more than $5 US, although you can save money with a grounds-only ticket for 15 yuan. Personally I think this is a time where it pays to spend a bit extra for the experience.
The Three Pagodas at Dali are the last remaining remnants of the former Chongsheng Temple. The tiered towers stand between Cangshan Mountain and Erhai Lake. They’re beautiful, but once you’ve seen them you’ll be quickly satisfied. At around 120 yuan, or $18, entrance to the site is comparatively expensive. A smarter option is to spend a couple of extra dollars and see the Three Pagodas as part of a walking tour of Dali.
No doubt any Asian vacation will include much time spent taking in temples, but the historic buildings in China are still not to be missed.
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Nestled in the Doi Suthep Mountain to the west of Chiang Mai you'll find the wat which shares the summit's name. It's worth climbing the hundreds of steps to Wat Doi Suthep to see the multiple images of Buddha and feel the energy of the faithful followers. However if you're feeling particularly lazy you can always catch the cable car!
If you only see one temple in Chiang Mai, make sure it's Wat Chiang Man. It was built in 1292, making it the oldest in the district. Its Lanna-style architecture has held up remarkably well over the years. The carved elephants which surround the main building and the ornate red roofs on the newer structures are particularly impressive.
Remember though that wats are not simply tourist attractions; they are there to serve the local Buddhist community. You should respect local custom by wearing modest clothes and being quiet and reverential while on wat grounds.
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The monastery's first tiger arrived in 1995. The cub was orphaned at the hands of poachers, and the monks quickly stepped in to raise the helpless creature. The numbers have since grown, and today the monastery is home to several adult and juvenile tigers.
Visitors to the monastery can see tigers feeding, playing, and spending time with the monks. A highlight for tigers and tourists alike is bath time, which happens every day at 2 pm.
It's important to remember that while the tigers have lived with the monks for many years, they are still wild animals. Guests are advised not to wear brightly colored clothes or perfumes, as these may disturb the tigers. You should also refrain from making loud noises, and never turn your back on the animals.
Wat Pha Luang Ta Bua Yannasampanno monastery is a 30-minute bus or taxi ride from Kanchanaburi, a metropolitan center lying three hours from Bangkok. Tourists with an interest in meditation are invited to stay with the monks in their temple. As is Buddhist custom, there is no charge for this accommodation, although it is polite to offer a donation. These financial gifts help the monks feed their tigers and other animals.
As a tourist