White Horse Temple

Located 12 kilometers east of Luoyang, Henan Province, White Horse Temple is nested between the Luo River and Mang Hill. The temple was founded in AD 68 during the Eastern Han Dynasty, with a history of thousands of history. It is the first Buddhist temple in China after Buddhism was introduced into China, as well as a famous Buddhist Temple in the world. It is honored as ‘the Cradle of Buddhism in China’. During the Eastern Han Dynasty, the emperor dispatched several monks to India for the sake of obtaining Buddhist scriptures. They were brought back to China on a white horse, which is why the White Horse Temple got its name. The existing ruins now were constructed in the Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties, with an area of 34,000 square meters. With its distinctive red walls, exquisite palaces and towering pagoda, the temple sits gently amid green pines and cypress groves, adding a solemn and silent quality to the complex.

Here are some forms of the legends relating to the foundation and naming of the temple. Following Emperor Ming's dream vision about a Buddha who established Buddhism in India, two of Ming's emissaries departed to search for Buddhist scriptures. They encountered two Indian Buddhist monks in Afghanistan, and persuaded them to join them and return to China, bringing their book of Buddhist scriptures, relics and statues of Buddha with them on two white horses. Pleased with their arrival in China, the king built a temple in their honour and named it the 'White Horse Temple' or Baima Temple, as an appreciation of the two white horses that had carried the two monks. The monks resided at the new temple and here they translated the Buddhist scriptures into the Chinese language. The Buddhist religion prospered from here and with the arrival of Bodhidarma, another monk from India in the 5th century, Chinese Buddhism evolved, spreading to other countries. The huge White Horse Temple has over 100 rooms.

White Horse Temple is a historic sit with possesses more than 1,900 years with a well-preserved appearance. This great antique architecture can be divided into some parts namely the Hall of Heavenly Kings, Hall of the Great Buddha, Hall of Mahavira, Hall of Guidance and the Cool and Clear Terrace appear in proper order in the temple, as they were when it was first built. Beside those main buildings are the Reception Chamber, the Cloud-water Chamber, the Ancestors Chamber, the Guests Chamber, the Buddhist Chamber, and the Abbot Courtyard and so on. The huge White Horse Temple has over 100 rooms.

Highlights to Visit in White Horse Temple

Shanmen (Mountain Gate)
The Shanmen, or main gate, is a paifang-style structure with a Xieshan roof, originally built in the Ming Dynasty. The plaque reading “White Horse Temple” was inscribed by Zhao Puchu, a famous modern Chinese calligrapher and Buddhist leader. The three arched doorways symbolize Buddhism’s “Three Gates of Liberation.” On the stone lintels above the arches, you can still see names of craftsmen carved in the Eastern Han period.

Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tianwang Hall)
This is the first major hall inside the temple complex. Inside, you will find the statues of the Four Heavenly Kings. Facing the entrance sits the Maitreya Buddha with a big belly, holding prayer beads in his right hand and a cloth bag in his left, an expressive Ming Dynasty masterpiece. Above him is a large Buddha niche decorated with more than 50 intricately carved dragons, a fine example of Qing Dynasty woodcarving art.

Hall of the Great Buddha (Dafo Hall)
The second main hall of White Horse Temple, the Great Buddha Hall hosts many important Buddhist ceremonies and rituals. At the center of the hall, seven Buddha statues are enshrined, with Shakyamuni Buddha in the middle, standing 2.4 meters tall in a seated meditation posture. On the east side of the hall stands a stone stele dating back to 1556, inscribed by eunuch official Huang Jin, which records the temple’s restoration and has significant historical value.

Mahavira Hall (Daxiong Hall)
The third grand hall enshrines Shakyamuni, the Medicine Buddha, and Amitabha Buddha. These Yuan Dynasty statues were crafted with the lacquered and dry-lacquer technique, showcasing refined artistry and vivid colors. Along with the two guardian generals and eighteen arhats in the hall, they form a unique set of 24 statues, all of which were transferred in 1973 from the Cining Palace of Beijing’s Forbidden City. Particularly noteworthy are the eighteen arhats, the only complete set in China, considered the greatest treasures of White Horse Temple.

Hall of Guidance (Jieyin Hall)
The fourth major hall is dedicated to Amitabha Buddha, flanked by Avalokitesvara (Guanyin) and Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva. Together, they symbolize the welcoming of sentient beings into the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss.

Cool and Clear Terrace (Qingliang Tai)
Legend says that Emperor Ming of the Han once read and relaxed here during summer. It is also believed to be the place where two Indian monks, She Moteng and Zhu Falan, translated the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters into Chinese. On the terrace stands the Pilu Pavilion, which houses a statue of Vairocana Buddha.

Qiyun Pagoda (Qiyun Ta)
Located about 200 meters southeast of the temple gate, Qiyun Pagoda is a 13-story square brick pagoda, 25 meters high, built in a unique parabolic form that appears elegant and graceful. According to inscriptions from the Song Dynasty, the original pagoda was first erected in AD 69 during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The current structure dates back to 1175 of the Jin Dynasty, making it more than 800 years old. Since 1990, the pagoda has also served as the first nunnery in Henan Province.
A fascinating feature of Qiyun Pagoda is its acoustic effect: if you clap your hands about 20 meters south of the tower, the structure produces a “croaking” echo resembling a frog’s call. This ingenious echo design predates Beijing’s famous Echo Wall at the Temple of Heaven by over 350 years.

International Buddhist Halls Zone
Adjacent to White Horse Temple, a new cultural park called the World Buddhist Hall Exhibition Area has been established. Here, you can admire authentic architectural styles of Buddhist temples from countries such as India, Thailand, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Myanmar, Japan, and Korea, making it a global showcase of Buddhist heritage.

Recommended Visiting Routes at White Horse Temple

Classic Route
Shanmen (Ming Dynasty Gate) → Hall of Heavenly Kings (Wooden Treasures) → Hall of the Great Buddha (Tang Dynasty Statues) → Mahavira Hall (Yuan Dynasty Arhats) → Cool and Clear Terrace (Emperor Ming’s Summer Retreat) → International Buddhist Halls Zone (Thai / Burmese / Indian Styles) → Qiyun Pagoda Courtyard (Jin Dynasty Pagoda) → Tomb of Di Renjie

Efficient Route
Shanmen (Photo with Stone Lions) → Silent Tea House (Free Tea Break) → Thai Buddhist Hall (Golden Roof and White Walls) → Burmese Buddhist Hall (Teakwood Golden Pagoda) → Indian Buddhist Hall (Replica of Sanchi Stupa) → Qiyun Pagoda (Panoramic View)
 

How to get to White Horse Temple from Luoyang

Within the City

• By Bus: You can take Bus No.56, 58, 87, or 90 and get off at the “Baima Si” (White Horse Temple) Station.
• By Metro: Take Metro Line 1 and get off at Yangwan Station. Exit from Exit D, where you can take a shuttle bus (3 RMB per person) to the scenic area, then transfer to the sightseeing car inside (10 RMB per person).
• By Taxi: A taxi ride from Luoyang’s old city area to the White Horse Temple takes about 35–45 minutes.

From Outside Luoyang

• By Air: Upon arrival at Luoyang Beijiao Airport, you can take the airport shuttle bus and then transfer to a city bus or taxi to reach the temple.
• By High-speed Train: From Luoyang Longmen Railway Station, take Bus No.67 and transfer to Bus No.56 to reach the White Horse Temple.
   

Food Recommendations at White Horse Temple

Vegetarian Food in the Temple
White Horse Temple Vegetarian Noodles (Mushroom broth + peony petals, available only at lunchtime)
Zen Tea Set (Peony pastry + lotus leaf tea)

Snacks Around the Temple
Buddha’s Fruit & Snow Pear Soup
Yongqing Temple Vegetarian Restaurant (West of White Horse Temple): Vegetarian spare ribs, vegetarian roast fish, about 30 RMB per person