Tongjiao Temple

The best temple in Beijing, bar nun

If you’ve lived in Beijing for some time, it’s easy to ignore some of the buildings you come across in your daily life.

If you’ve ever walked up Dongzhimen Bei Xiaojie or exited Nanguan Park from the west gate, you have probably spied an interesting looking building, concealed from view by high red walls.

To creep across the threshold reveals the charming Tongjiao Temple. It’s a bit like invading someone’s home: the place is a functioning Buddhist nunnery, with everyday objects of domesticity scattered amongst the paraphernalia of religious practice.

The temple was originally built in the Ming dynasty, and has seen many revivals and revisions over the years, but its modern history began in 1949, when two nuns from Fujian dedicated themselves to reconstructing the dilapidated building though hard work and fundraising.

The nunnery has retained its purpose of instructing those in the Buddhist faith since then, and in 1983 it was designated as a key cultural sight by the Chinese government.

The nunnery is flush with greenery and flowers, and the central courtyard in decorated handsomely with Buddhist statues and altars for burning incense.

While its small book and souvenir shop contains most of the items you can expect to find at other Beijing temples, Tongjiao Temple has an atmosphere of a peaceful retreat rather than a tourist spot.

Tongjiao Temple 19 Zhenxian Hutong, Dongzhimen Bei Xiaojie, Dongcheng district (6405 5918). Open 6am-4.30pm daily. Free 通教寺，东城区东直门北小街针线胡同.