Xiao Forbidden City in Western Beijing - Great Experience

Finally, I came to the famous Wanshou Temple, which is known as the "Xiao Forbidden City in Western Beijing". 📍Basic Information: It is a royal temple of the Ming and Qing dynasties, located in the south of Suzhou Street, Haidian District, Beijing, north of Zizhu Bridge, and west of Guangyuan Sluice of Gaoliang River. It is now the site of the Beijing Art Museum (Wanshou Temple) and a national key cultural relic protection unit.  ✅History: It was built in the 5th year of the Wanli period of the Ming dynasty (1577) and was funded by the Empress Dowager Cisheng. Most of the buildings were burned down in the 16th year of the Shunzhi period of the Qing dynasty, and were rebuilt in the 25th year of the Kangxi period according to the Qing official style. After several repairs and expansions, the temple formed a layout of three routes: middle, east, and west. ❤Architectural Layout: The middle route has seven existing halls and courtyards, with 42 buildings including the Mountain Gate Hall and the Hall of Heavenly Kings; the east route has 17 buildings including the Shifang Courtyard and the Great Zhaitang; the west route has seven complete courtyards, including 47 buildings such as the Shoushan Room and the Shoucha Room. Most of the buildings on the middle route are open, while the west route is not open, and the garden on the east route is relatively large. ✅Main Buildings: The Mountain Gate Hall is a brick and stone structure with a beamless hall, and there is a stone door plaque bestowed by the emperor in the 2nd year of the Shunzhi period above the hall door. The Mahavira Hall is the main hall on the middle route, with a single-eave hipped roof, and enshrines the statues of the Three Buddhas (extremely shocking, original works of the Ming dynasty). The Wanshou Pavilion is the tallest building in the temple, which was called the Sutra Pavilion in the Ming dynasty, and the current pavilion was rebuilt in 2003. 💰Average Cost: Ticket: CNY 20/adult, free for eligible people. 🚉Transportation: Exit C of Wanshou Temple Station on Line 16. It is very convenient to take the bus or subway. There is no parking space, you can find one nearby, but considering the traffic jam, it is still recommended to take the bus. 📝Tips: 1⃣Highly recommended place, you can see the original works of the Ming dynasty architecture, and friends who are interested in Buddhism can feast their eyes. 2⃣The original works of calligraphy and painting by Empress Dowager Cixi are preserved here. 3⃣There are very few people, and the comfort level is extremely high. If you can't get a ticket to the Palace Museum, you can come here.