Wenshu Monastery

Admire the statues, paintings and Qing architecture of this atmospheric Zen Buddha temple in the heart of the city.

This active Zen Buddhist temple in the centre of Chengdu has a long history which stretches all the way back through several Chinese imperial eras. Originally built during the Southern Dynasties, it was then renamed during the Tang Dynasty, destroyed by fire during the Ming Dynasty and then settled in by a renowned Buddhist monk, thought to be the reincarnation of Bodhisattva Manjusri, in the Qing Dynasty. The temple's current name originated from this last episode, with Wenshu being the Chinese name for the Bodhisattva.

The temple was rebuilt at the end of the 17th century and today displays many fine examples of Qing Dynasty architecture, including a number of sacred prayer halls and rooms, in addition to the large Drum and Bell Towers and bronze statues. Wehshu also houses an important collection of ancient cultural relics, comprising of paintings, calligraphy, Buddha statues and sacred sutras.

Wenshu is located within a few minutes walk of the Buddha Zen Hotel. It is also one of the best places in the city to try local green tea and has a renowned vegetarian restaurant, a great place to try a Sichuan Hotpot.