Longhua Temple 龙华寺
Shanghai's oldest and largest Buddhist temple, with a seven-storey brick-and-wood pagoda dating back to the Song dynasty.
Combine it with a walk along the West Bund riverside, about 15 minutes away.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to book Longhua Temple in advance?
Ordinary days: no advance booking needed (one page mentions free on-site reservation, another says no reservation at all). Online reservation was required only for Chinese New Year's Eve (2026-02-16) and the first day of the lunar year (2026-02-17), booked free through the '上海龙华寺' WeChat service account, with booking open Feb 13–16, 2026; foreigners booking with a passport is not mentioned.
What are the opening hours of Longhua Temple?
07:00–16:30
How much is a ticket to Longhua Temple?
About ¥10. Base admission is described as free on some pages, but the most recent page states a 10 CNY '香花券' (incense ticket) that includes 3 incense sticks, with no other compulsory spending; separate items such as extra incense (about 20 CNY/bundle) and vegetarian noodles (about 15 CNY) are paid on their own.
How long do I need at Longhua Temple?
Plan about 1 hours.
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