A Buddhist temple in Beijing reopens after five years of renovation

A Buddhist temple built and expanded during the Ming and Qing dynasties (1368-1911) in western Beijing has reopened after a five-year renovation.

Wanshou Temple (the Temple of Longevity), open to visitors since Sept. 16, has undergone the fifth large-scale repair in its history, according to Wang Dan, curator of the Beijing Art Museum. It is housed inside the temple.

Built during the reign of Emperor Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the temple is made up of a complex of Buddhist buildings, gardens and imperial palaces.

Wang said the museum was closed in 2017, making way for the renovation project that started in 2018.

An area of ​​more than 10,000 square meters in the temple was repaired during the renovation, where the murals and Buddha statues were restored with sparkling colors and buildings with a new luster.

Wang said the museum has held five exhibitions in the temple, with illustrated photos on themes of Wanshou Temple history, legacies of Buddhist statues, antiques, traditional furniture, calligraphy and painting works. of the imperial family of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911).

“At the exhibitions, more than 350 relics and cultural treasures are exhibited, including jade, porcelain, gold, lacquerware, wood and ivory objects, as well as imperial art collections. Nearly 70 percent of the relics are on display for the first time,” Wang said.

In addition to the repair of historical buildings and relics, new facilities such as digital screens, a bookstore and a cultural and recreational space have been set up.

Wang said the museum plans to add a post office and open more exhibition halls for cultural relics such as traditional Chinese clothing and writing materials, porcelain, jade ware and ceramics. ancient coins.

“The space in the temple would serve better for learning about traditional culture and showcasing China’s historical and cultural heritage,” Wang said.