Lingyin Temple & Feilai Peak (灵隐寺 · 飞来峰)

One of the most important Buddhist temple complexes in southeast China, founded in AD 326 and backed by Feilai Peak, a limestone hill carved with more than 400 stone Buddhas. Foreign visitors come for the serenity, the giant wooden Buddha, and the photogenic forest setting — but the experience is much better if you arrive before the tour buses.

First-time visitor essentials — the 4 worries, solved

Before you go

• What it is: Feilai Peak (飞来峰) is the wooded hill with ancient Buddhist grottoes; Lingyin Temple (灵隐寺) sits just behind it. You must pass through Feilai Peak to reach the temple.
• Cost: Feilai Peak scenic area ~¥45; Lingyin Temple ~¥30; total ~¥75. The North Peak cable car is extra (~¥30 one way). Faxi Temple farther up the valley is ~¥10.
• Opening hours: roughly 07:30–17:30, with last entry around 17:00. Arrive before 08:30 for a quiet visit.
• Booking: Search the WeChat mini-program "Hangzhou Lingyin Feilai Peak" (杭州灵隐飞来峰) or book through Trip.com. Foreign passports work, but the Chinese interface is easier with a local SIM or hotel help.
• Dress: Cover shoulders and knees; the main halls are active places of worship. Comfortable, non-slip shoes are essential — the paths are wet and uneven.

How to get there

• Bus from West Lake (easiest): Take bus 7, Y2 or 1314 from near Broken Bridge (断桥) or Shaonian Gong (少年宫) to the Lingyin (灵隐) terminus. The ride is 25–40 minutes and very scenic.
• Metro + bus: Line 3 to Huanglong Cave Station (黄龙洞站), then bus 103 or Y2 to Lingyin. Good if you are staying in the north of the city.
• Taxi / DiDi: Say "Qù Língyǐn Sì" (去灵隐寺). From West Lake it costs ¥25–40 and 20–30 minutes, but the road can be jammed on weekends and holidays.
• From Hangzhou East Railway Station: Metro Line 1 to Longxiangqiao, then bus 7 or Y2 to Lingyin. Allow about 70 minutes.
• Onward to Longjing Tea Village: Bus 27 from the Lingyin area continues to Longjing Village (龙井村) and the China National Tea Museum — a natural pairing for the same day.
• Onward to Faxi Temple: Walk 25 minutes up the valley path, or take the tourist shuttle, to Faxi Temple (法喜寺) — one of Hangzhou's prettiest hillside temples.

How long to spend

• Quick visit: 1.5–2 hours — Feilai Peak grottoes and Lingyin's main hall.
• Standard visit: 2.5–3.5 hours — add the side halls, a vegetarian lunch, and a short climb.
• Full half-day: 4–5 hours — include Yongfu Temple, a little hiking, and tea in the valley.

What most visitors love (the classic highlights)

• Feilai Peak grottoes (飞来峰造像): hundreds of Buddhist statues carved into the limestone cliffs between the 10th and 14th centuries. The laughing Maitreya Buddha is the most famous.
• Lingyin Temple main hall: houses a 24.8 m gilded camphor-wood Sakyamuni — one of the largest wooden Buddha statues in China.
• Heavenly Kings Hall and Arhat Hall: the traditional temple layout, with fierce guardian kings and rows of arhat statues.
• Vegetarian lunch: the temple's vegetarian restaurant serves simple, tasty mock-meat dishes. Go before 11:30 to beat the crowds.
• Incense offering: a small pack of incense is included or cheap to buy. Light one stick per burner — do not wave it around like a torch.

Hidden gems and local favorites

• Yongfu Temple (永福寺): a smaller, quieter temple just above Lingyin, with ponds, pavilions and a view back over the valley. Most tour groups skip it.
• Taoguang Temple (韬光寺): higher up the hill, reached by stone steps. It is older and more atmospheric, and the climb keeps the crowds away.
• Three Lives Stone (三生石): a short walk past the temple entrance, this stone is tied to a Tang-dynasty love story. Locals come to make wishes.
• Faxi Temple (法喜寺, Upper Tianzhu): 2 km up the valley, famous for its yellow walls, carved windows, and 10-yuan entry. Take the shuttle or walk the tree-lined path.
• North Peak (北高峰): ride the cable car or hike 40 minutes to the top for a panoramic view of West Lake and the city. The summit temple, Ling shun Temple, is known as the "Temple of the God of Wealth."
• Early morning: arrive at 07:30 when the gates open. The mist, chanting, and empty courtyards feel like old China.

Things to watch out for

• Two tickets, not one: Feilai Peak and Lingyin Temple have separate tickets. You cannot reach Lingyin without entering Feilai Peak first. Keep both tickets or QR codes.
• Online booking limits: The official mini-program often sells out for same-day entry, especially weekends. Book the day before.
• "Free entry" touts: People outside the gate offering to skip the line or get you in free are scammers. Use the official ticket windows or Trip.com.
• Tea-house invitations: After the temple, strangers may invite you to a "family teahouse" in Longjing. These can be hugely overpriced. Stick to marked-price shops or the Tea Museum.
• Crowds and traffic: The road to Lingyin is one lane and jams badly from 09:30. Go early, or take the bus rather than a taxi.
• Modest dress: Tank tops, short shorts and revealing clothing are disrespectful and may get you stopped at the hall entrances.
• Photography: Do not photograph monks without permission, and keep your voice low inside the halls.
• Slippery paths: The stone steps and forest floor are damp and mossy after rain. Good walking shoes are a must.

Quick facts

Chinese name	灵隐寺 (Língyǐn Sì) · 飞来峰 (Fēilái Fēng)
Location	West of West Lake, in the hills
Entry	Combined ~¥75 (Feilai Peak ~¥45 + Lingyin ~¥30)
Opening	07:30–17:30 (last entry ~17:00)
Best transport	Bus 7 / Y2 / 1314 from the lake; taxi early morning
Time needed	2.5–3.5 hours; 4–5 hours with side temples
Best for	Temples, stone carvings, forest walks, vegetarian food