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Jade Buddha Temple
The temple is an active one, with 70 resident monks at last court. The temple is
built between 1911 and 1918 in the style of the Song Dynasty, with symmetrical halls and courtyards, upturned eaves, and bright yellow walls. The exterior is readily identifiable by the bright saffron walls. Inside, the centerpiece is a 1.9-metre-high white jade Buddha, which was installed here after a monk has brought it from Burma to Zhejiang Province in 1882. The seated Buddha, encrusted with jewels, is said to weigh 1,000 kg. A smaller, reclining Buddha from the same shipment lies on a redwood bed. In the large hall are three gold-plated Buddha¡¯s, and other halls house ferocious-looking deities. Artifacts abound, not all on display, and some 7,000 Buddhist sutras line the walls. Also in the precincts is a branch of the Antiques & Curio Store that sells miniature sandalwood drums and gongs, replicas of the large ones used in ceremonies. The 70 monks who live and work here can sometimes be seen worshiping. A vegetarian restaurant can be found on the temple grounds. |
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During the reign of Emperor Guangxu, Monk Huigen from Putuo Mountain, on his way home after paying homage to Buddha in India, brought back from Myanmar 5 jade statures of Buddha of various size, and left in Shanghai 2 white-jade statues of one seated and one reclining of Sakyamuni for the specially built temple in Jiangwan, hence the name of the Temple. It was moved to the present address in 1918. Yufo Temple constructed in the style of the palace architecture of the Song Dynasty comprises the Hall of Heavenly King, the Precious Hall of Sakyamuni, the Hall of Reclining Buddha, the Pavilion of Jade Buddha etc.
As one of most precious relics in the Temple, the seated jade statue, 1.9 meters high and carved out of a single piece of jade stone has the image of a solemn Buddha and is reputed as a gem of Buddhist art works. Housed in the middle of the Pavilion of Jade Buddha, the seated statue of Buddha is decorated with dazzling Buddhist lights and gold girdles. Enshrined in the main room of the Hall of Reclining Buddha, the reclining statue of white jade, 0.96 meter long and lying on his side on a mahogany couch, is the image of Sakyamuni in nirvana with a serene and self-possessed expression. Here the air is heavy with smoke of burning incense all the year round and the sound of scripture-chanting never comes to an end.
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Yuyuan Garden of Shanghai
Yuyuan Garden is located in the center of Shanghai¡¯s Old City, not far from the
Bund. With a total area of less than 5 acres, it has more than 40 attractions in
the inner and outer gardens, both built in the Ming Dynasty classical style.
The garden is believed to be built in the Ming Dynasty more than 400 years ago. Built in traditional Chinese style with numerous rock and tree garden areas, ponds, dragon-lined walls and numerous doorways and zigzagging bridges separating the various garden areas and pavilions.
The garden covers a significant space and include a few halls, springs and other buildings of interest and cultural relics including century-old furniture, calligraphy and paintings of famous artistists,clay sculptures and brick carvings, some inscriptions and couplets. One of the highlights in the garden is the Exquisite Jade Rock. It is a 5-ton porous, beautifully shaped grotesque rock which is said to be carried from Tia lake in Wuxi, Jiangsu province. The rock is characterized by its wrinkled appearance, slender shape, translucent nature and numerous holes eroded by water. An interesting legend goes that the rock was found some 1000 years ago and it was originally one of the Emperor Huizong¡¯s private collections before it found its way in the Yuyuan Garden. |
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The exquisite layout, beautiful scenery, and the artistic style of the garden
architecture have made the garden one of the highlights in Shanghai. The
surrounding bazaar area provides good shopping opportunity, where traditional
Chinese products and gold and jewels are available on sale.
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Water Town: Zhujiajiao
Zhujiajiao, Known as ¡°the Venice of Shanghai¡±, is a well-preserved ancient town
in water country in Shanghai typical of southeast China. During Three Kingdom as
appeared as a village. Nowadays old streets and architecture in the style of Ming and Qing periods can
be found and local customs characteristic of water country can be observed.
Zhujiajiao is noted for its archaic water country scenery typical of southeast
China ¨C old town, peacefulness, tranquility and elegance.
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Qibao Ancient Town
Located around 18 kilometers from downtown Shanghai, Qibao ancient town is a
spiritual sanctuary, free from traffic jam, pollution, noise which now plague
most of the modern cities we live. Built in the Five Dynasties Period around one
thousand years ago, the town witnessed great development in the Song Dynasty and
flourished in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Qibao in Chinese means seven
treasures and the town was so named for a legend go that there were seven
treasures around the area, which were a Gold Lotus Scripture written by an
imperial concubine of the 10th century, a Magic Tree, dating back to one
thousand years ago, a Big Bell Floated from Afar, a Buddha Flown over from Afar,
a Gold Cock, Jade Chopstick and a Jade Axe.
But according to history, only four
of them-the Gold Lotus Scripture, the Big Bell, Magic Tree, Golden Cock)
actually once existed while two of the four(the Scripture and the Bell) have
survived till today.?
The old town occupies about two square kilometers, crossed by two water lanes. Around the water lanes, stand a large number of well preserved traditional houses, gardens, temples, shops and restaurants which define the place.
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| The old street in the heart of the tiny town is the epitome of old Shanghai. The street has been restored to its original look which is consisted of two sections, southern and western lesser streets. The southern part filled with traditional restaurants serving various tasty snacks is a paradise for gourmets. Old shops selling art crafts, antiques and calligraphy works occupy the western part. In this part visitors will find the Qibao Pharmaceutical stores, a-thousand-year-old shop, some fine tea houses, and Shadow Play Opera theaters. The old, time-worn stone roads and narrow lanes left by the Song Dynasty while the temples, gardens, pavilions, houses has been well preserved from Ming and Qing Dynasty, which features black- bricked walls, elegantly decorated tiles. Some places worth a special mention here include Cricket Hall, a place to dream times gone by, Tianxiang Restaurant which serves authentic local cuisine, Qibao Theater where you can enjoy many of the distinctive Shanghai Operas and much more. ?The small town is a good place to explore Shanghai¡¯s grand past. When traveling there, watch out for the authentic flavors.
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