Beijing - Zhihua Si Temple

This Buddhist temple hidden in the alleyways to the north of the International Hotel dates back to the year 1444 and is one of the most important original building complexes from the Ming period in the old town. In the first courtyard are the bell and drum tower. Next comes the main gate, behind which the main hall rises. Beyond the next (third) courtyard is the building that is of the greatest historical importance, in art, in the complex, the two-story Tathagata Hall (Rulai Dian), named after the statue of the transcendental Buddha (5 Tathagata) which is housed here.

The hall is also known as "10,000 Buddha Hall" because of the numerous small Buddha figurines (originally about 9000) whose shrines adorn the walls. The pictures date from the time of the temple's construction. The magnificent middle part of the paneled ceiling was sold to the USA by monks in the 1930s.