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The Introduction of Jade Budda Temple

Jade Buddha Temple is a famous monastery in Shanghai of modern times. Located at the crossroad of Anyuan Road and Jiangning road, it is known for the Jade Buddha statues enshrined. In the early years of Qing Emperor Guangxu's reign, a high monk named Huigen from Puduo Mountain went on a pilgrimage to India. He passed through Tibet and exit from Burma. In Burma he was Shanghai and left two statues, one in sitting posture and the other, in reclining posture. A temple was built to enshrine them.

The temple was built in the 8th year of Qing Emperor Guangxu's reign (1882 AD) in Jiangwan area. The temple waw deserted during the 1911 Revolution and then rebuilt at the present site in 1918. The new temple was completed in 928. The building is a Song Dynasty palace-type architecture, compact in structure, magnificent in appearance. The sitting jade statue, emerald and jadeite. It is a rare masterpiece in the world.
The reclining Buddha statue is in the Reclining Buddha Hall. It is 1-m long, half reclining on a mahogany couch, in a state of nirvana, looking serene and peaceful. In the temple are kept Buddhist scripture and different kinds of Buddhist relics.

What to See
The Chamber of Four Heavenly Kings contains a laughing Maitreya, a Wei-to Boddhisattva and the Four Heavenly Kings, who represent favourable circumstance. The chamber is located on the southern-edge, or 'front' of the temple.

The Grand Hall, also called the Great Hall, this hall contains many statues, including:

Three Golden Buddhas. The central sculpture is of Gautama Buddha, the left of Amitabha and the right of Bhaisajyaguru.

Gods of the Twenty Heavens. The Gods of the Twenty Heavens, covered in gold, line the eastern and western sides of the Grand Hall.

18 Arhats. 18 unique golden Arhats stand in two groups of nine.

Guanyin, Shen Cai and his 53 teachers. A large golden statue of Guanyin stands on at northern entrance to the Great Hall, with Shen Cai at her side and sculptures representing the 53 teachers of his life above.

The Jade Buddha Chamber is in the northern section of the temple, on the second floor. A fee of 10 yuan is charged to ascend to it. Some additional Buddhist sculptures are also viewable in the antechamber.

The temple also contains a private restaurant for the use of monks and temple volunteers, which is at the western edge of the temple complex. The vegetarian food in the temple is quite well-known. It is famous for its culinary skill in colour, shape, and flavour. The temple runs a vegetarian restaurant whose menu boasts so-called ‘meat’ dishes made from vegetarian ingredients such as pickled duck, sliced eel and chicken, all made of bean curd and vegetables. Sizzling (Crackling) rice and mushroom soup is strongly recommended. To have a taste of the vegetarian food in Jade Buddha Temple is an enjoyment for the gourmets in Shanghai.