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Yuantong Temple

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With a history of more than 1,200 years, Yuantong Temple is one of the oldest and grandest Buddhist temples in Kunming. A king of Nanzhao Kingdom (641-902) built the temple during the late eighth century as a continuation of Butuoluo Temple.

Unlike all other Buddhist temples, which are built on the higher place of the mountain, with many steps leading up to the Hall of Sakyamuni, one of the most important buildings in a Buddhist temple, Yuantong Temple is built at a lower place. The entrance to the temple is from above and then along a gently sloping garden path to reach the Hall of Sakyamuni, which is at the lowest point of all the temple buildings. Gigantic cypress trees and an array of flowers line the garden path to the temple.

Yuantong Temple is known as the Fane on the Water because it is surrounded by a pond filled with clear water and fish. The temple complex includes the halls of Mahayana Buddhism, Hinayana Buddhism and the Tibetan Buddhism. Of all the halls, the Yuantong Hall (the Mahayana Hall), which faces south, is the grandest and the center of the whole temple. Three Buddha statues of Sakyamuni, Amitabha and the Medicine Buddha, from the Yuan Dynasty are found in the main hall. The surrounding 500 Arhats which are carved in the walls are rare treasures noted for their perfect proportions and appearance. Two dragons with gentle curve and exquisite style on a stone pillar in the hall.

The Copper Buddha Hall in Yuantong Temple is the only Hinayana Buddhist temple in China. The temple is a combination of the construction styles of the Han and Dai nationalities. In the hall is a copper statue of Sakyamuni presented by Thai Buddhists in 1982. The statue is three and a half meters high and four tons in weight. In 1985, the Copper Buddha Hall was built and it is a good place for people to find out about the difference between Mahayana Buddhism and Hinayana Buddhism as the in-the-hall arrangements and the whole environment in the hall are different from Yuantong Hall.

Edition HistoryAddLocation:

Edition HistoryAddTicket Price:

Edition HistoryEdit Opening Time:
opentime:08:00-17:00 Bus:No.85,101

Edition HistoryEdit How to get there:
Bus routes: No. 85 and 101.Bus routes: No. 85 and 101.

Edition HistoryEdit Tips:

On the 1st and 15th of each lunar month, people gather here to take part in all kinds of Buddhist services. Tourists can taste the vegetarian food provided in the temple.