The Golden Temple, Kunming
Chinese Name: 金殿
English Name: Golden Temple
Type: Park, Cultural Landscape, A Historic Site
Best Time: All Year Around
Recommended Visiting Time: 2-3 hours
Opening Time: 07:30-18:00
Admission Fee: ￥30
Location: Fengming Mountain, East Suburb of Kunming city, Yunnan Province, China
Why is Golden Temple so special?
Golden Temple is the biggest and heaviest as well as the best preserved copper temple in China. It is a key national cultural and historical relics. The whole temple reflects the excellent metallurgical and casting technology more than 300 years ago in Yunnan.
the History of Golden Temple
Golden Temple was built during Ming Dynasty Wanli period thirtieth years (in 1602), built by the Yunnan provincial governor Chen Yongbin who imitated the Taihe Palace and Golden Temple style of Tianzhu Peak Wudang Mountain Hubei province, and consecrated Zhenwu deity. Around the temple was brick wall protection, such as towers, the gate of the building, which is called Taihe Palace. In Ming dynasty Chongzhen period tenth year (1637), the bronze temple was dismounting and partial shipment moved to Binchuan Jizu Mountain by the provincial governor Zhang Fenghe. Existing Golden Temple is reconstructed by Pingxi king Wu Sangui in tenth years of the reign of emperor Kangxi in Qing dynasty (1671).
Ming Dynasty Chongzhen period tenth year (1637) the Golden Temple was moved to Binchuan Jizu Mountain, annals inscriptional record are consistent. The governor of Yunnan province Zhang Fenghe moved to Jizu Mountain.Tianzhuf Peak. Tianzhu peak is also called “goldentop” therefore. Jizu Mountain bronze temple was destroyed in 1966 during the “cultural revolution” removed the “four olds” (old ideas, old culture, old customs and old habits) movement.
Taihe Palace bronze temple in Fengming Mountain rebuilt during Qing dynasty Kangxi period, the inscription of the whole body ridge purlin in the bronze temple was covered by chimney spot, and the inscription verified the Taihe palace was rebuilt by Wu Sangui in Qing dynasty Emperor Kangxi period 9th year (1670) and he also rebuilt Zhenwu Bronze Palace. Completed in Kangxi period 10th year October 16th (1671). Because twelfth year of Kangxi period (1673)Wu Sangui raised army to fight against Qing government, therefore, local chronicles inscriptional record only written “rebuilt in nineth year of the reign of emperor Kangxi”.
From 1983 to 1991, in the south, east of Fengming Mountain, new requisition of land of 273 mu, the building of the Kunming Botanical Garden covers an area of 500 mu. Botanical Garden is divided into twelve theme gardens like camellia garden, greenhouse flowers area, azalea garden, water scenery garden, magnolia garden, rose garden, bamboo botanical garden, naked seed plant area, rare and endangered plants area, demonstration area, the parrot garden (bonsai area) and cedar lawn garden. Provincial and municipal governments successively make investment of more than 8 million RMB.
For the 1999 world horticultural exposition in Kunming, from 1997 to 1999, the municipal government successively in Fengming Mountain Golden Temple invested 20 million yuan, a comprehensive maintenance of Taihe Palace ancient architectural complexes was bring into force, and repaired Bell Tower, opened up the tower travel services area. And builded a large greenhouse showhouse, new cuckoo boutique garden, develop orchid nursery and ferns botanical garden, rebuild the autumn garden restaurant, transformed travel hostel, reconstructed campus tourism toilet.
What to See in Golden Temple
1. Golden Temple Heaven Gate
Started from the Yingxian Bridge at the foothills, passing the first door, second door, third door to the platform as high as 1000 meters above and there is a castle type building, towers, the crenel walls in the city wall, Taihe palace in the city.
2. The Bell Tower
The Bell Tower was constructed in 1983. In the middle of the tower hangs a copper bell which is 3.5 meters high, has a circumference of 6.7 meters, and weighs 14 tons.The bell, cast in 1423 A.D., the 21st year of the Yongle Period of the Ming Dynasty, was previously installed in Xuanhua Tower at the south gate of Kunming. It ranks fourth on the list of ancient bells in China.
3. Botanical Garden
The Landscape and Botanical Garden of Kunming covers 33 hectares. So far nine flower gardens, such as the Camellia Garden, Yulan Magnolia Garden and Azalea Garden,have already been established in it. The Camellia Garden, the largest camellia garden with the most varieties of camellia trees in China, covers an area of more than 10 hectares and has more than 10,000 camellia trees of 40 varieties.
4. Kingdom of Nonferrous Metals
Golden Temple and Yongle Bell vividly show that Yunnan has been the “kingdom of nonferrous metals”, and the botanical garden exhibits the beauty and elegance of Yunnan as the “kingdom of plants” and the “kingdom of the flowers”.
What to Do in Golden Temple?
1. Exploring Taoism Culture
The famous Golden Temple is part of the Taoist Taihe Palace, founded by Yu Ming for 30 years, and restored by Wu Sangui. Tourists can enjoy the rich culture of Taoism here.
2. Visiting Golden Temple Fair
Golden Temple Fair is an ancient traditional folk custom and cultural activities, which aims to pray for the new year. The Golden Temple Fair, held on the ninth day of the first lunar month, has a history of more than 400 years and is a well-known traditional festival of the Spring Festival in Kunming. Whenever the “Golden Temple Fair”, people from all directions are all bustling to the Golden Temple to visit temple fair
3. Watching Camellia of Golden Temple
Golden Temple enjoy thousands of pots of camellia, also known as camellia, is one of the eight famous flowers in Yunnan, its cultivation history has been more than 500 years. Yunnan is called the hometown of camellia. Camellia is also the city flower of Kunming. In late winter and early spring, a hundred flowers still sleep and leaves fall, but the camellia puff in full bloom.Golden Temple’s camellias welcome the tourists from all directions.
Best Time to Visit Golden Temple
From March to October is the best time to travel, in the spring and summer the scenery is the best. The scenery in winter is simple, and it is not very good to visit as in other season.
How to Get Golden Temple?
By Bus
1. Take bus 76 to Jindian (Golden Temple) station.
2. Take bus 10, 69, 71, 147, 235, Z85, or Z90 to Jindian Chechang.
By Taxi
It takes tourists about half an hour to get Golden Temple from downtown of Kunming.
Cable Car
It can be reached by cable car from the Expo Garden or by ropeway from the Expo Garden.
Nearby Attractions
Except Golden Temple, you also can enjoy other fascinating attractions nearby.
The Kunming City Museum is a historical museum and one of the popular tourist attractions in Kunming City, which is encompassed by the Yunnan Province in China. The museum is quite comprehensive for a local museum; all in all, it occupies an area of 5,000 square meters.
Western Hills boasts an excellent environment with flourishing flowers and dense forest, providing tourists an excellent environment to enjoy the tranquility and marvelous scenery. They have also been given another name – ‘Sleeping Beauty Hills’ for the hills because its skyline looks like a beautiful young lady laying beside Dianchi Lake with her face upward and her hair trailing into water
Recommended Golden Temple Tours
Top 3 Golden Temple chosen by most customers to explore Golden Temple in the best way. Check the detailed itinerary, or tailor your own trip now with us. We provide some tour routes for tourists to choose.
1 Day Kunming Temples Tour
4 Days Best Kunming City Tour with The Stone Forest
5 Days Kunming City Tour and Shilin Torch Festival Celebration
Travel Tips
1. Food preparation: Meals are available in the scenic spot. To have a good time, it is recommended to bring some dry food and drinking water, the amount depends on your needs.
2. Do not deliberately destroy the building in the Golden Temple.
