Shuanglin Monastery
双林寺
Situated at the Qiaotou Village about six kilometers from Pingyao Ancient Town, the Shuanglin Monastery was built to honour the Buddha and the Patriarchs Sakyamni at the beginning of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). Now boasting a history of over 1,500 years, it was reconstructed in 571 and repaired several times thereafter. The building as it currently exists was established in the Ming and Qing Dynasties.
Occupying an area of 6,860 square meters, Shuanglin Temple consists of 10 big and small halls grouped around three courtyards. The temple is famous for over 2,000 lifelike and vividly-painted Buddhist terracotta and wooden statues of the Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, earning the temple the reputation of the “Oriental Treasure House of Painted Sculptures”.
Opened to the public in 1979, the Shuanglin Monastery was added to the World Heritage List in 1997 along with Pingyao Ancient City Wall, Zhenguo Temple and other nearby attractions, and labelled a “true and unique treasure” by UNESCO.
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