Wannian Temple
Name in Chinese: 万年寺[ wàn nián sì]
Location: Emei city, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
Tour Duration: 1.5 Hours
Opening Hours: Sun.-Sat 07:00 a.m.-06:00 p.m.
Tour Highlights: Hiking; Nature; Buddhist Culture
Hidden away in the serene green hills of Mount Emei, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wannian Temple is one of the eight most celebrated monasteries on the mountain, making it a must-visit destination for pilgrims and tourists alike.
Perched at an altitude of 1,020 meters above the sea level, Wannian Temple stands as the oldest surviving temple on the mountain. Founded as early as 400 A.D., the temple was reconstructed and renamed in 1600 during Ming Dynasty, signifying blessings for longevity and peace.
Its time-honored history has left behind a wealth of cultural and architectural legacy, among which the Beamless Brick Hall is the most stunning. The hall features a domed roof with small stupas on it. Built entirely with bricks without a single wooden beam or pillar, this building is an architectural wonder, showcasing the supreme engineering skills of ancient China.
Inside the hall enshrines a bronze statue of Puxian Buddha riding his six-tusked white elephant. In Chinese Buddhism, Puxian is a key Mahayana Bodhisattva symbolizing great practice, virtue, and fulfillment of vows. Dating back to 980 A.D., the copper and bronze statue stands 7.85 meters high and weighs an estimated 62 tons, representing the superb artistry of ancient Chinese bronze-casting. Visitors often rub the elephant's hinder leg for good luck.
The Wannian Temple and its surroundings are home to Tibetan macaques and a rare species of frog whose croaks sound like the notes of a zither. According to local legend, a beautiful fairy drawn to the temple by the melodious notes of an eminent monk playing zither was later transformed into the frog. The monkeys often appear outside of the Wannian Temple, sitting along the walking stairs or walking up to tourists and beg for food.
The Tibetan macaques inhabit at Mount Emei are known for their aggressive behavior, so you’d better not bother, tease, or hold any foods, drinks or plastic bags in your hands.
How to get to Wannian Monastery
Wannian Monastery is about 190km (118 mi) from its capital city Chengdu with a travel time of 2.5 hours. Tourists can fly to Chengdu from most of major cities within Mainland China. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (CTU) is one of two airports serving Chengdu, which now mainly serves domestic flights around China. The other one is Chengdu Tianfu International Airport (TFU), which also operates domestic flights and took over all international routes from Shuangliu International Airport. Currently, there are 30 international routes to most of major cities abroad, such as, Hongkong, Moscow, Taibei, Seoul, Phuket, Istanbul, Sydney, Cairo, Los Angeles, Bangkok, Osaka, Hanoi, Singapore, Tashkent, Kuala Lumpur, Nha Trang, Toronto, Vancouver, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Paris, Chicago, San Francisco, Washington. Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport is located 18 km (11 mi) south of the city center, the journey from the airport to the city center takes about 35min while Tianfu International Airport is 65 kilometers (40 mi) southeast of the city center, taking about one hour.
As the major rail hub in southwest China, Chengdu possesses an extensive rail network, operating around 250 high-speed trains on a daily basis. It well connects to over 100 cities nationwide, making it super convenient to reach Chengdu from other popular tourist destinations, such as Xi’an, Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Zhangjiajie, Lanzhou, Hongkong, etc.
