Lingyin Temple(Yunlin Temple)

Lingyin Temple, also known as "Yunlin Temple," is nestled at the foot of Lingyin Mountain on the west side of West Lake. With its serene surroundings, it's Hangzhou's oldest renowned Buddhist temple, housing exquisite cultural relics from various dynasties. This is where the legendary monk Ji Gong became ordained, and it's said prayers made here are particularly efficacious, drawing a continuous stream of devotees seeking blessings every day.

With 1,700 years of history weathering storms and sunshine, Lingyin Temple stands as a treasure trove of culture and heritage. The "Cloud Forest Chan Monastery" plaque hanging in the Heavenly Kings Hall bears the calligraphy of Emperor Kangxi from the Qing dynasty. The stone pagoda before the Great Hero Hall and the stone sutra pillar in front of the Heavenly Kings Hall are both relics from the Wuyue Kingdom during the Five Dynasties period. The temple safeguards priceless Buddhist artifacts including ancient palm-leaf manuscripts, a gilded statue from the Eastern Wei dynasty, Ming-era Diamond Sutra transcribed by Dong Qichang, and the Qing-era Dragon Tripitaka woodblock prints. Lingyin Temple is also where the legendary monk Ji Gong took monastic vows. The Ji Gong statue enshrined in the Chan Master Daoji Hall depicts the folk hero holding a broken fan in his right hand, prayer beads in his left, with his right foot resting playfully on a wine jar.

Lingyin Temple is nestled against the Northern Peak and faces Feilai Peak. Though not particularly high, Feilai Peak boasts numerous fantastically shaped caves and over 340 Buddhist rock carvings dating back to the Five Dynasties period, making it a rare gem of ancient grotto art in southern China. The temple enjoys year-round bustling incense offerings, especially on the first and fifteenth days of the lunar month or major Buddhist festivals, when devotees flock from all directions, creating massive crowds.