A Niche Recommendation: The Crown of Southern Murals · Xinjing Guanyin Temple

Xinjing, the southern gateway of Chengdu, houses a national protected site called Guanyin Temple, originally built in the Southern Song Dynasty. The main attractions today are the Guanyin Hall and the Pilu Hall. The Pilu Hall was built in the 6th year of the Ming Tianshun era (1462). It is a single-eave Xieshan-style building with ridge decorations of chiwen (mythical creatures). The hall is three bays wide, measuring 10.72 meters. Under the eaves are five layers of heavy upward-curving dougong brackets, all painted in color. Inside the hall, the center enshrines the three-body statue of Shakyamuni Buddha. On the left, right, and back walls, there are seven sections of colorful murals covering about 100 square meters, painted in the 4th year of the Ming Chenghua era (1468). The murals depict the Twelve Perfectly Enlightened Bodhisattvas and the Twenty-Four Heavenly Lords. Behind the Buddha shrine, over eighty secular figures, immortals, ghosts, and scenes of pavilions and towers are painted. 📣 Key points — The main hall is staffed and monitored. It is closed for staff lunch break from 11:30 AM to 2:00 PM. The Guanyin Hall behind the Pilu Hall is currently under renovation and not open to visitors. The renovation is expected to be completed in 2027. After that, the murals in the Pilu Hall will also be renovated. Public Transportation 🚇: Take Metro Line 10 to "Wujin Station" Exit B, then take a taxi. Buses are hard to catch (fixed departure times). For the return trip, Bus 57 runs directly from the Guanyin Temple entrance to the metro. No admission fee 🎫: There is regular incense burning, all voluntary.