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Plan your Nanjing Tour? Linggu Temple Scenic Area is one of the three major sights in Zhongshan Mountain National Park in Nanjing. The other two are Dr.Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum, Ming Xiaoling Tomb. Linggu Temple Scenic Spot is located about 1.5km to the east of Dr.Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum on the southeast slope of Zhongshan Mountain.
Linggu Temple Scenic Area is named after the namesake temple – Linggu Temple. Now the scenic area is mainly composed of Linggu Temple, Linggu Pagoda, the Beamless Hall, the Entrance Gate, the Paifang and a large screen wall.
The Linggu Temple was first built in 514 under the reign of the Liang Dynasty (502-557), also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty, the third of the Southern dynasties during China’s Southern and Northern Dynasties period.
It was originally located in the present site of Ming Xiaoling Tomb. Zhu Yuanzhang, the First Ming Dynasty Emperor chose the place as his mausoleum and then had the temple moved to the present place. The Lingu Temple was named by Zhu Yuanzhang himself.
It used to be the largest temple at that time with an area of over 300,000 square metres. Later it was destroyed in a warfare and rebuilt in Qing Dynasty. Only the Beamless Hall was left intact.
From 1928 to 1935 during the Kuomintang Government, the Linggu Temple was gradually built into a cemetery dedicated to the the National Revolutionary Army’s martyes who gave their lives during the Northern Expedition against the northern warlords and the Anti-Japanese Wall. After 1949, Lingu Temple was renamed Linggu Temple Park (Linggu Temple Scenic Area). But people still habitually call it Linggu Temple.
The visit to the Linggu Temple Scenic Area is often followed by the pilgrimage trip to Dr.Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum Visitors can either walk or take an electric car (also known as sightseeing vehicle) from the parking area at Dr.Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum to the Linggu Scenic Area. The transfer ticket costs you RMB 5.
Follow me to visit the Linggu Temple Scenic Area. Take a sightseeing vehicle for RMB 5 from Dr.Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum to the Linggu Temple Park。
Take a sightseeing vehicle for RMB 5 from Dr.Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum to the Linggu Temple Park
This is the main entrance to the Linggu Scenic Area
This is the main entrance to the Linggu Scenic Area
Wuliang Hall, known as Beamless Hall. The Beamless Hall is the only remaining ancient relic in the temple with over 600 years’s history. The hall is 22m high, 46.7m wide. It has three archways. The hall was constructed with bricks and without a piece of wood or a single nail, hence the name of “Wuliang Hall” means “beamless hall”.
The Hall used to enshrined Amitayus (Buddha of Infinite Life) whose Chinese name has the same pronunciation as that of Wuliang. Later in 1928, the hall was changed into the memorial hall of soldiers who gave their lives in the War of Northern Expedition (1926–1927). Over 30,000 soldiers were enshrined.
A momument to the 19th Route Army Martyes that primarily led the offensive against the Japanese soldiers invading Shanghai in 1937.
A momument to the 19th Route Army Martyes
The 9 stories pagoda is 60.5 metres high, inscribed with the speeches made by Dr. Sun Yat-Sen and epigraphs of Chiang Kai-Shek.
Linggu Pagoda was originally constructed in 1929 as a monument to the soldiers
Take a side road leading to the Linggu Temple.
Tip: Hassle-free Nanjing Guided Tours
If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours, here are some options for Nanjing Guided Tours:
Nanjing Highlight Day Tour from US$75 p/p
Nanjing 2 Day Highlight Tour from US$190 p/p
Nanjing One Day Side Trip from US$90 p/p
Nanjing Suzhou Hangzhou Shanghai 6 Day Tour from US$560 p/p
Nanjing Car Rental
Further Readings
Nanjing Massacre Museum: The museum tells the overwhelming atrocities committed by the Japanese forces of aggression from December 13 to January, 1938.
Nanjing Presidential Palace：a must-visit sight if you are interested in the modern history of China
Ming Xiaoling Tomb：the burial site of the Hongwu Emperor, the first emperor and founder of Ming Dyansty ( 1368-1644 ).
Sun Yat-sen’s Mausoleum：Dr. Sun Yat-sen is considered to be the “Father of Modern China” who stablished the Republic of China.
Linggu Temple Scenic Area：The Linggu Temple was gradually built into a cemetery dedicated to the the National Revolutionary Army’s martyes.
Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge：Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge is the first bridge over the Yangtze River designed and built by China’s own technical strength.
Fuzi Temple ( Confucius Temple ): A famous local walking area to touch Nanjing’s past and present.
Zhonghua Gate： a renowned ancient city gate in China and the largest ancient city wall gate in the world.
Taiping Heavenly Kingdom History Museum： The museum shows the maps, pictures and captions to tell the progress and history of Taiping Army.
Top 10 Attractions in Nanjing
Nanjing Taxi
Any questions, just drop a line.
