White Horse Temple

White Horse Temple stands on Baima Temple Road in Baima Temple Town, east of central Luoyang in Henan province. Founded in 68 AD during the Eastern Han dynasty, it is traditionally regarded as the first Buddhist temple in China. According to tradition, the emperor sent envoys to the west, and they returned with Buddhist scriptures and monks carried on white horses, giving the temple its name. The main complex follows a north-south axis through a gate, the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, the Hall of Great Buddha and later halls, with Ming and Qing rebuilding evident in much of the woodwork. Two stone horses stand at the entrance, and a pair of ancient tombs in the grounds are traditionally linked to the two early monks. Ancient trees and quiet courtyards give the main axis a calm atmosphere. Beyond the historic temple, the grounds include the Qingliang Terrace and, in the surrounding area, halls built by foreign Buddhist communities. These include an Indian style hall, a Thai style temple and a Burmese style temple, each reflecting the architecture of its country and giving the site an unusual international character. A visit usually takes one and a half to two hours, and visitors can walk the main axis and then explore the foreign halls at a relaxed pace. Weekday mornings are the quietest time. Pilgrims arrive in larger numbers on the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, when incense smoke fills the courtyards and worship activity is at its most visible. Photography is generally allowed outdoors but often restricted inside halls containing Buddha images. Visitors should dress modestly and avoid disturbing worshippers. The temple is easily paired with Longmen Grottoes and Luoyang Old Town in a day of sightseeing, and simple noodle and vegetarian restaurants are found near the entrance.