Email     Print     Bookmark & Share

Great Bell Temple, Beijing

City Guide

Maps

  • China map

Weather:

Directory

Time

<< Back to Beijing Attractions
Great Bell Temple
Great Bell Temple © fortes

Great Bell Temple

The Qing Temple is home to the Ancient Bell Museum (Gu Zhong Bowuguan) and is a must see for travellers en route to the Summer Palace. The temple, originally known as 'Awakened Life Temple', apparently wasn't experiencing enough 'awakening' and a 47-ton bell, with a height of 22.77 feet (6.94m) was transported to the temple on ice sleds in 1743. The bell is inscribed with Buddhist Mantras on both the inside and outside of the body and features over 227,000 characters in all. The bell was often chosen by the emperors to pray for rain and blessings for the people of China and was one of three projects that Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) commanded after re-establishing Beijing as the capital. The other two were the Forbidden City and the Temple of Heaven. The bell is considered as an auspicious article in the Chinese tradition and nowadays it is rung 108 times to begin the celebrations at grand ceremonies.

Address: Bei San Huan Xi Lu 31A
Telephone: (0)10 6255 0819
Transport: Bus routes: 361, 422, 425, 326. Metro: Da Zhong Si (1302, exit A)
Opening time: Open Tuesday to Sunday from 8.30am to 4pm
Admission: ¥10; ¥12 to climb the Bell Tower

iExplore designs made-to-order, privately-guided adventure tours to China and over 200 other world wonders. Come Back Different!
Journey into the Middle Kingdom with G.A.P Adventures and experience one of the world's most diverse and fascinating of countries.
Intrepid Travel, one of the world's leading suppliers of small group adventures focused on getting off the beaten track, interacting with the locals and having real life experiences throughout China.
Bamboo sailing through karst mountains. Trek Tiger Leaping Gorge and stay at home with the Tibetans. Build your own China adventure.