A Buddhist temple on Shugang hill founded in the 5th century, where the monk Jianzhen taught before sailing to Japan, with Pingshan Hall and long views.
Daming Temple, founded in the Daming era (457-464) of the Southern Song, is one of the best-known Buddhist temples of Jiangnan. In the 8th century the monk Jianzhen (Ganjin) taught here before making his crossings to Japan; after five failed attempts and the loss of his sight he reached Nara in 753 and founded the Toshodai-ji. A memorial hall in the temple, designed by the architect Liang Sicheng in 1963, commemorates this link, and Japanese visitors have long made it a pilgrimage.
The complex also holds Pingshan Hall (founded in 1048 by Ouyang Xiu), a lecture and tea hall with a wide view south over the Yangtze plain, and the Fifth-Best Spring (Di Wu Quan), ranked by the Tang tea master Liu Boxu. The temple was rebuilt after Taiping damage in the 19th century and again in the 20th.
| Admission | Adult About CNY 45 (~$6) including Pingshan Hall and the Jianzhen Memorial Hall · Child Children under 1.2 m free; seniors and students about half price with ID |
|---|---|
| Hours | Daily about 07:30-17:30 |
| Typical visit | 2-3 hours |
| Best time | Early morning on weekdays |
| Getting there | Didi from the city centre about 20 minutes (CNY 20-30 / ~$3-4); walk from Slender West Lake north gate about 15 minutes |
| Address | Pingshantang Road, Shugang Scenic Area, Hanjiang District, Yangzhou / 扬州市邗江区蜀冈平山堂路大明寺 |
Good to know
- Best for
- history lovers, spiritual travellers, photographers
Location
Pingshantang Road, Shugang Scenic Area, Hanjiang District, Yangzhou / 扬州市邗江区蜀冈平山堂路大明寺
32.4372, 119.4025 View on map
Highlights
- Jianzhen (Ganjin) Memorial Hall
- Pingshan Hall founded by Ouyang Xiu in 1048
- Fifth-Best Spring tea water
- Qixia Pagoda and temple gardens
Tips for visiting
- Dress modestly and keep voices low in the halls
- Climb to Pingshan Hall behind the main complex for the best views toward the Yangtze
- Allow time at the Jianzhen Memorial Hall; key displays have English captions
- Combine with Slender West Lake via the north gate walkway
When to visit
Weekday mornings in spring or autumn
Accessibility
Steps up to the main terraces; some levels reachable by ramp. Wheelchair access is limited to the lower courtyards.
Frequently asked questions
Is Daming Temple worth visiting?
Yes. It is the main link to Jianzhen and the Japan connection, and its hall views are among the best in the city.
How do I combine it with Slender West Lake?
Walk or take the shuttle between the lake's north gate and the temple, about 15-20 minutes.
What is the Jianzhen story?
Jianzhen made five unsuccessful sea crossings to Japan before arriving in 753 as a blind monk.