Standing atop Phoenix Mountain, this Buddhist temple overlooks Xining from the south. The temple was built during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127), though most of the current structures date to the Qing (1644–1912). It is the oldest Chan (Chinese Zen) Buddhist temple in Qinghai province – a quiet spot with good views of the city. The Thousand Buddha Hall at the rear contains a multi-armed Guanyin and myriad small Buddhas.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
Tibetan Culture & Medicine Museum
5.2 MILES
Exhibitions in the north hall focus on Tibetan medicine, astronomy and science. Many visitors come for the 618m-long thangka scroll in the south hall –…
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1.29 MILES
This beautiful and recently constructed mosque is really quite an astonishing sight. Built from marble and a variety of other stones and carved tilework,…
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25.68 MILES
Well known throughout the Tibetan world, this 17th-century hillside monastery in the Huzhu Tuzu (互助土族, Hùzhù Tǔzú) Autonomous County is considered one of…
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14.14 MILES
One of the great monasteries of the Gelugpa (Yellow Hat) sect of Tibetan Buddhism, Kumbum Monastery was built in 1577 on hallowed ground – the birthplace…
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1.58 MILES
As becomes quickly evident to even the most casual observer, about one-third of Xining’s population is Muslim, and although the city's biggest mosque may…
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0.42 MILES
This park, which is also known as Fènghuáng Shān (凤凰山), rises above Xining south of town. The grounds are home to two Buddhist temples: Nánchán Sì and…
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0.9 MILES
One or two isolated sections of Xining’s Tang dynasty city wall still remain, the most accessible being this short stretch within a park on Kunlun Zhonglu…
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1.26 MILES
At the east end of Xinning Sq (Xīnníng Guǎngchǎng), this provincial museum looks like an ominous government building from afar. Once inside, galleries…
Nearby attractions
0.42 MILES
This park, which is also known as Fènghuáng Shān (凤凰山), rises above Xining south of town. The grounds are home to two Buddhist temples: Nánchán Sì and…
0.82 MILES
This small temple on the south side of Hongjuesi Jie was named after a long-destroyed golden chörten (Tibetan stupa). It's now used as a place of study by…
0.9 MILES
One or two isolated sections of Xining’s Tang dynasty city wall still remain, the most accessible being this short stretch within a park on Kunlun Zhonglu…
1.26 MILES
At the east end of Xinning Sq (Xīnníng Guǎngchǎng), this provincial museum looks like an ominous government building from afar. Once inside, galleries…
1.28 MILES
This vast, internally attractive and ambitious art museum on the south side of Xinning Sq displays art and calligraphy by artists from Qinghai and around…
1.29 MILES
This beautiful and recently constructed mosque is really quite an astonishing sight. Built from marble and a variety of other stones and carved tilework,…
1.58 MILES
As becomes quickly evident to even the most casual observer, about one-third of Xining’s population is Muslim, and although the city's biggest mosque may…
1.9 MILES
This Taoist temple at the foot of a barren hill on Xining’s north side is nothing special but halfway up the steep climb to the top you pass cave temples…