# Shuanglin Temple (双林寺)

Pingyao, Shanxi Province · North China, China · Guidebook rating: 5/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/shuanglin-temple
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** ¥33
- **Opening hours:** 8:00–18:00 (1 April–8 October); 8:00–17:30 (9 October–31 March of the following year)
- **Time needed:** 2–3 hours
- **Address:** On the north side of Qiaotou Village, 6 km southwest of Pingyao County Town
- **Getting there:** A hired car is needed to get there. A round trip typically costs ¥15
- **Good for:** History & Culture, Temples

## About Shuanglin Temple

Shuanglin Temple was originally called Zhongdu Temple and was built in the early Northern Wei dynasty. Across its three courtyards and ten halls, more than 2,000 colored sculptures of Vajra guardians, Guanyin, Arhats and others from the Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties have been preserved. Particularly noteworthy are the lifelike donor figures, rare examples of secular sculpture from ancient times. The religious statues inside the temple are also not overly stylised. Each one has its own distinct form and spirit, making them rare artistic treasures of antiquity. Among them, the 'Guanyin Crossing the Sea' and the 'Guanyin at Ease' are especially exquisite.

## Tips from the guidebook

- Remarkable Eyes
- Whether large or small, every statue's eyes are made of glazed material, and they seem to glance and shimmer as you move around them. Look closely to appreciate this.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 1808. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.