Off the northeast corner of Changchun’s People’s Square, an imposing, ancient-Chinese styled gate leads visitors to the Banruo Temple (Banruo si), the biggest Buddhist Temple in Changchun. The temple, although not traditionally old (construction only began in 1921), is a perfect example of Buddhist architectural structure. The temple boasts a total space of nearly 15,000 square meters and is filled with beautiful halls and garden settings. Nowadays around 40 practicing monks live their life here, meditating, eating, sleeping and the like.
Just through the entrance of the temple stands a Bell Tower on the right hand side and a Drum Tower on the left. These are struck on famous occasions and with the arrival of important visitors.
Carrying on forward you will reach the Heavenly King Hall within which four heavenly kings are resplendent in protection of the sacred Buddhist world. The Laughing Buddha sits jovially in the middle.
The solemn Grand Hall, at the back of the Heavenly King Hall and enshrining the Sykyamuni Buddha, is the center of the temple and is the most imposingly-built hall of all. The Grand Hall also boasts a lot of arhats standing alongside the main Buddha. Within here prayers can be thought up, written down, sent with a beaten bell and hopefully replied to.
The last hall is the Sutra Library.The temple serves as the most popular temple of the city and on the 8th, 18th, and 28th of every month on the lunar calendar, the temple is crowded with both pilgrims and visitors. Historically the temple has been through a lot, especially during the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) when the compound was used as a cardboard box factory, a seemingly blasphemous insult that was rectified with the restoration of normal activities in 1982.How to get there: From the railway station, take bus No.6 to the People’s Square. The temple is also merely 2km from the railway station and a taxi should cost less than RMB10.
Opening Hours: 8am-3pm, but closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Cost: RMB1. 

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