[2025 Dunhuang Attraction] Travel Guide for Leiyin Monastery (Updated Jun)

#timetotravel This is a perfect place for leisurely stroll when you just arrived in Dunhuang and you haven't started your itinerary yet. If you are looking for a place to relax and avoid the noise and congestion of the other tourists attractions in the city then this is the place for you. It is a large complex so it requires you to walk a lot but in your own space. There are plenty of shades anyway and benches to sit. The architecture of the buildings are very intricate and I really appreciate it as an architect. It is not commercialized like the other temples so I really appreciate the tranquility that this place offers. Enjoy your stroll. #mytripvlog #tripblazers #silkroad #chinatravel

While most people head straight to the Mogao Caves, Leiyin Temple felt like a hidden sanctuary — quiet, serene, and steeped in the spirit of ancient travellers and monks who passed through Dunhuang centuries ago. Tucked beneath the golden curve of the Singing Sand Dunes, this temple is far less crowded but no less powerful. There’s something deeply humbling about walking through its courtyard, with the desert wind carrying whispers of the past. I came across delicate carvings, fading murals, and a hall that once welcomed revered monks like Xuanzang and Kumarajiva during their westward journey for the Dharma. But the real highlight? Seeing the Sanskrit scrolls. Absolutely mind-blowing. To witness these ancient texts — symbols of cultural exchange between East and West — was a rare moment of awe. You don’t need to understand the script to feel its weight. It’s places like this that remind you why Dunhuang is so special. Not just the big-ticket sights, but these quieter spaces where history lingers in the dust and the light. Highly recommend if you’re looking to experience a deeper, more contemplative side of the Silk Road. #Dunhuang #LeiyinTemple #SilkRoadChina #HiddenGems #CulturalTravel #AncientChina #BuddhistHeritage #TempleHopping #ChinaTrip #DesertTemple #ChineseArchitecture #china #MingshaMountain #SanskritScrolls #SilkRoadStories #WanderWithMeaning #SlowTravel #SacredSites #LeiyinMonastery #GansuProvince #HistoryBuff #RoamChina #AsiaDestinations #TravelReview #CulturalExplorer #OffTheBeatenPath #HistoricPlaces #DesertJourneys

Dunhuang, located in the northwestern part of Gansu Province, is an ancient city full of historical charm, famous for the Mogao Caves and desert landscapes. As an important node on the Silk Road, Dunhuang blends diverse cultures, making it an excellent destination for travelers exploring the northwestern region. Must-Visit Attractions: 1. Mogao Caves: A World Cultural Heritage site preserving Buddhist art treasures from the 4th to 14th centuries. The 735 caves contain 45,000 square meters of murals and 2,415 colored sculptures. Advance reservations are required during peak season, and visiting 8-12 special caves is recommended. 2. Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring: A natural wonder where desert and clear spring coexist. You can experience camel riding (about 100 yuan/hour) and sand sliding (20 yuan/time). The best viewing times are sunrise and sunset. 3. Yangguan Pass Ruins: The famous ancient pass known for the poem line "West beyond Yangguan Pass, no old friends remain." The site features beacon tower ruins and the Yangguan Museum. Admission is 50 yuan. 4. Yumen Pass: An important Han Dynasty frontier pass, paired with Yangguan as the "Two Passes." The Small Square Fort ruins remain, located 90 kilometers from the city. Special Cuisine: 1. Donkey Meat Yellow Noodles: Dunhuang's famous dish of handmade noodles with braised donkey meat. Recommended at Da Ji Sauce Donkey Meat Noodle Restaurant, averaging 40 yuan per person. 2. Lamb Heji: Lamb soup with vermicelli noodles and meatballs. Xia Family Heji is the most authentic and a great breakfast choice. 3. Apricot Skin Water: A special beverage made from dried Li Guang apricots, sweet and sour, perfect for hot weather. Available throughout the streets for 3-5 yuan per cup. 4. Paor Oil Cake: Traditional sweet pastry, crispy and delicious. Recommended purchase at Shazhou Night Market. Practical Information: Transportation: Dunhuang Airport has direct flights to Lanzhou, Beijing, and other cities; the train station offers high-speed trains to Lanzhou (about 6 hours); city taxis start at 5 yuan. Accommodation: Recommended areas include Mingshan Road or Yangguan Middle Road, with mid-range hotels at 200-400 yuan per night. Advance booking is necessary during peak season. Best Season: May to October. July-August is hottest but fruits are ripe; September-October offers pleasant weather. Notes: Photography is prohibited in the Mogao Caves; stay hydrated and use sun protection in desert areas; respect minority customs. Suggested Itinerary: Day 1: Morning at Mogao Caves (3-4 hours), afternoon at Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring (for sunset) Day 2: West Line day tour (Yangguan Pass, Yumen Pass, Yadan Geological Park) Day 3: City tour (Dunhuang Museum, Leyin Temple) + shopping at Shazhou Night Market Dunhuang, this desert oasis, tells Silk Road stories through thousand-year-old murals and sings desert poems through endless sand dunes. It deserves your time to appreciate slowly. Remember to bring your camera to capture the magnificent scenes of "straight smoke rising from the vast desert, and the round setting sun over the long river."

Because I was staying in a B&B outside the Crescent Spring Scenic Area, I had a lot of time, so I had time to walk over and see the Thunderbolt Temple. In China travel, usually at most Guanyin Temple Tianhou Temple, rarely heard of Journey to the West often talk about Leiyin Temple, so when the B&B owner recommended it was surprised and excited, and walk by only ten minutes, not difficult to find. There are not many tourists inside the temple, and it is not very large, but there are several halls, very serene, and some mural architecture are very historical, after going to the crescent spring have time to come and see. #2024 Travel Review #Dunhuang #Great Northwest #Silk Road #Mingsha Mountain

❤Recommendation reason: ‌ Dunhuang and Jiuquan are cities that I want to visit again after visiting them! Its mystery, its beauty, and its long history all deeply attracted me~ Dunhuang is an important node on the Silk Road, and Dunhuang culture is a microcosm of Chinese traditional culture. It is also one of the largest and most complete art treasures in the world! [Clap] 📍Detailed address: Dunhuang, known as "Shazhou", is a county-level city under the administration of Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, and is located at the westernmost end of the Hexi Corridor. 👍Most Recommended: Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake, Mogao Grottoes, Leiyin Temple, etc. (these attractions are worth writing a separate article for them!) 📝Note tips: [One] I went there in the summer, so sunscreen was essential. The sunshine hours were long, and the sun didn’t set until around 8 or 9 in the evening🌄. [Two] In order to better understand Dunhuang, you can watch documentaries about Dunhuang and Mogao Grottoes before traveling. 🍽Dining recommendations: Donkey meat yellow noodles must be tried! [Coke]

The buildings and statues in the Leiyin Temple in Dunhuang were all built in recent years, so the funds were relatively abundant, and they were built in a majestic and magnificent manner. The square is spacious and well-equipped. The groups of statues are lifelike and the halls are majestic and tall. A lot of effort was also put into planning, designing and constructing. The incense here is also quite strong, and I saw them performing rituals. It has greatly enriched my knowledge system and broadened my horizons.

Leiyin Temple In ancient Dunhuang, there is a temple that is silent and solemn, like an old man who has experienced many vicissitudes of life, quietly telling the secrets of thousands of years. This temple is the Leiyin Temple, a holy place where souls can rest and a poem caressed by time. It stands quietly at the foot of Mingsha Mountain and next to Crescent Lake, as if it is the habitat specially selected for it by nature. Amidst the endless yellow sand and the sound of camel bells, the Leiyin Temple stands in this vast world, quietly waiting for every soul that comes to explore. Leiyin Temple, formerly known as Jietuo Temple and also called Guanyin Hall, was built in the Western Jin Dynasty and has a long history of more than 1,700 years. It is not the temple of Tathagata Buddha in "Journey to the West"📖, but a witness of history and inheritor of culture. Every brick and stone, every mural seems to be telling a thousand-year-old story. 👣Walking into the Leiyin Temple, it feels like traveling through a time tunnel and arriving at the glorious Tang Dynasty. This place is a hub of east-west transportation, as well as a meeting point and transit point for Chinese and Western cultures. Countless eminent monks and great virtues have spread Buddhism here, leaving behind indelible traces. The south and north walls of the back wall of the main hall are copies of the murals of Maitreya Pure Land Transformation on the south and north walls of Cave 25 in Yulin. Every stroke contains Buddhist wisdom and artistic charm, which makes people stop to appreciate and savor it carefully. The air is filled with a faint scent of sandalwood, which is the scent of faith and the scent of the soul.

Monkey King didn't deceive me, there really is a Leiyin Temple on the way to the west‼️ It's just on the way from Dunhuang to Mingsha Mountain, a 10-minute walk from Mingsha Mountain. 💰Cost: Free 🕰Time: 08:00-18:00 🚗Transportation: You can take bus No. 3 in the city to Leiyin Temple Station (about 40 by taxi in the urban area) 📍Address: No. 28 Mingshan Road, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province 🌈Route: Mogao Grottoes-Leiyin Temple-Mingsha Mountain. This temple is built according to the mountain's terrain, with a central axis and symmetrical layout, making it very solemn and magnificent, with extraordinary momentum. Although it is newly built, the origin of Leiyin Temple is in line with the Mogao Grottoes. Using the architectural structure layout of the murals in Cave 172 of the Mogao Grottoes as a blueprint, the Tang-style Leiyin Temple was rebuilt! It means: the sound of Buddha's teachings is like thunder. Compared with the grand and magnificent architecture, there are very few tourists here, making it very suitable for sincere worship, tourism, or check-ins. If you have time, you can spend 20 yuan to hire a guide to listen to the introduction related to Leiyin Temple while watching, which is much more interesting than just walking around by yourself! Here is the slash photographer📷, Pumpkin, traveling in Hanfu. More Dunhuang travel guides, stay tuned🖼

Leiyin Temple has a history of more than 1,700 years and its original site was next to the Mogao Grottoes. Generations of monks have been responsible for the management of Mogao Grottoes. The first cave of Mogao Grottoes was also excavated by monks from Leiyin Temple. The eminent monks and famous translators Kumarajiva and Xuanzang once preached here. Leiyin Temple was also once a royal temple. Later in the Ming and Qing Dynasties it was renamed Leiyin Temple. The prototype of the Leiyin Temple that Xuanzang and his companions passed by in Journey to the West is here. Later, Mogao Grottoes needed maintenance and restoration, so Leiyin Temple was moved to the vicinity of Mingsha Mountain. The temple is solemn, peaceful and tranquil. The buildings are all wooden structures, and the materials are the raw materials of the original temple of Mogao Grottoes. After the relocation, they are still rebuilt using mortise and tenon structures. The expanded part of the temple was built according to the prototype of Cave 278 of Mogao Grottoes. After the visit, I was meditating in the temple and came across a calico cat. It was very friendly and kept rubbing against me and letting me tickle it.

Leiyin Temple is located on the left side of the highway from Dunhuang city to Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic area, about 4 kilometers away from the city. It is said that there was a Leiyin Temple near the Crescent Spring in ancient times, which was later buried by sand. In 1989, it was rebuilt by Buddhist groups at home and abroad and the Dunhuang City Buddhist Association. It was completed and opened to the public in June 1991. Now Leiyin Temple covers an area of more than 180 acres, is a larger Buddhist activity place in Dunhuang city. The architectural scale along the central axis has five courtyards, the first is the mountain gate, the second is the Heavenly King Hall, the third is the Great Hero Treasure Hall, the fourth is the Great Brightness Hall, and the fifth is the inner courtyard. The first four are the outer courtyard for worship area, open to tourists and pilgrims; the fifth is the inner courtyard for practice area, living area, not open to the public. The outer courtyard has side halls such as the Pure Land Hall, the Glazed Hall, the Four Great Bodhisattva Hall, the Bell and Drum Tower, the Ancestor Hall, the Five Observations Hall, the Guest Hall, the Cloud and Water Tower, etc. The inner courtyard is centered on the Buddha selection field, with the Lanre Courtyard, the Fenduo Courtyard, the Sangha Courtyard, the Right Awakening Courtyard, etc. The halls are high and wide, majestic, with holy statues inside, extraordinarily solemn.

Here is your travel guide to Leiyin Temple in Dunhuang: - Location: No. 28, Mingshan Road, Dunhuang City, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province. - Opening hours: 08:00-19:00 (all day). - Tickets: Free. - Transportation: You can take the No. 3 bus in the city and get off at Leiyin Temple Station. - Time reference: 1-3 hours. - Travel guide: - The temple area is large, and the view is wide after entering the temple. - The temple is clean and tidy, with fewer tourists and monks on ordinary days. - Every year on the eighth day of April, the birthday of Sakyamuni Buddha, Leiyin Temple will hold a grand Dharma meeting. - The main building of Leiyin Temple, the Daguangming Hall, is located in the third courtyard. This majestic hall was completely rebuilt according to the Tang Dynasty structure style in the murals of Mogao Grottoes No. 172, using traditional Chinese architectural methods. It took four years to build. - There is a precept-opening ceremony, tourists are not allowed to go up, it is a Buddhist holy land.

Leiyin Temple, formerly known as Jieyin Temple, is also known as Guanyintang. It is located in the important town of the ancient Silk Road. It is located at the foot of Mingsha Mountain, 4 km south of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. Many of the Mingshan Mountains in Dunhuang are not for Leiyin Temple. I will care too much, but if you like to watch the Journey to the West, you must have heard of it.