#Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Jun)
Historical Architectures
Address:
Jingzhen Village, Ouhai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture
Recommended sightseeing time:
1 hour
Departing from Xishuangbanna to Dali by self-driving on G214, Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion | You really know how to have fun!
Address, Jingdai Buddhist Temple in Jingzhen Village, Mengzhe Township, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, Yunnan Province
The Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion is an important building of the central Buddhist temple in Jingzhen, located on the top of a circular hill next to Jingzhen Village, close to the Liusha River. The pavilion is octagonal in shape, with a brick and wood structure, and is about 20 meters high, consisting of a base, pavilion body, and spire.
It is said that the pavilion was built according to the style of the 'Kazhonghan' golden shawl cap of Buddha Sakyamuni, exclusively for the use of high monks to recite scriptures. The pavilion has 8 angles, representing the 8 'Mahatma' (high monks) around the Buddha; the 4 doors on the pavilion facing the southeast and northwest indicate that the followers should spread the thoughts of Buddhism in all directions.
On January 13, 1988, the Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion was announced by the State Council as the third batch of national key cultural relics protection units.
This trip departs from Xishuangbanna, self-driving on National Highway 214 to Dali, the first attraction.
🌈Attraction with free parking, no admission fee, a sanitation fee of 10 yuan per person is charged.
Penelope Carmichael
I spent the Spring Festival in warmth, admiring the 'national treasure' at the Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion
To avoid the cold, I flew from the north to the south to celebrate the New Year in warmth, arriving at Jingzhen Village, Menghai County, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan. The Jingzhen Octagonal Pagoda is a must-visit spot‼️ The pagoda is so exquisitely made that it was listed as a third batch 'national treasure' in 1988.
The Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion belongs to the Theravada Buddhism architecture and serves as a Precept Hall, where monks chant scriptures, repent, hold meetings, and discuss major affairs and religious activities. The Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion is just an independent building within the Jingzhen Buddhist temple complex, which consists of the main hall, drum tower, monks' quarters, precept hall, pagoda, and mountain gate.
🌈Highlights:
✅It is said that this is the place where Buddha Sakyamuni transformed a lake into a dam, and it is also the setting for the Dai narrative epic 'The Gourd Letter'.
✅The Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion was first built in the 40th year of Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty (1701 AD), the 1063rd year of the Dai calendar, and is one of the three major ancient Theravada Buddhist buildings in the Banna region. It is said that the octagonal pavilion was built by Buddhists to commemorate Buddha Sakyamuni, imitating the gold-threaded cap 'Kazhonghan' he wore.
✅The Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion is octagonal in shape, 15.42 meters high, and consists of a base, body, and top. The base is a folded-corner sub-shaped brick Sumi base, the pavilion is a wooden structure, and the pavilion roof is a conical spire with flat tiles. Inside and outside the pavilion, there are various patterns of flowers, animals, and figures, with unique and exquisite designs, a crystallization of the joint labor of the Dai and Han peoples.
💰Purse: Sanitation fee 5 yuan
CATHERINE MANN
Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion in Xishuangbanna, the lost Buddhist kingdom
It has no name, a forgotten corner, now remembered again.
Located in Menghai County, Xishuangbanna, it is said to be an unfinished scenic spot with no name and cannot be directly navigated. We navigated to the Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion, came out after the tour, entered the village along the rightmost village road, and arrived when we left the village.
After entering, you will find it is very large, the first thing that catches your eye are two huge reclining Buddha statues. Further up the hundred-step staircase, there is a dilapidated white temple, the front of which is full of half-human-high withered grass, and the ruined ruins have a kind of broken beauty.
The white temple has no stairs, but there are two pieces of wood there, perhaps left by the explorers before us.
We climbed up the wood and passed through the temple. There is another white temple behind, separated by a huge piece of farmland in the middle, too far away for us to go.
Surrounding are patches of paddy fields, with giant lotus sculptures and Buddha's hands scattered in the fields.
On the other side of the field are houses, and a few small temples scattered on several small hills.
There is a sense of life beyond the ruins, which is very interesting.
Lovely wildflowers embellish the bitterly cold abandoned temple, this kind of unyielding perseverance attracts me, the compatibility of strength and fragility, the natural environment that cannot be relaxed for a moment is full of charm.
Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion
NINA CUMMINGS
Unveiling Xishuangbanna: A magical journey of tropical rainforests, ethnic customs, and a feast of food
Xishuangbanna is a popular tourist spot in Yunnan Province, China, attracting numerous tourists with its unique Dai ethnic style and rich tropical rainforest resources. Here is a brief three-day tour guide for your reference:
**Day One:**
- Depart from Jinghong, take the Daluo bus, get off at Menghai County, and visit Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion. The architectural style of Jingzhen Octagonal Pavilion is unique, and the tall bodhi tree next to the pavilion is impressive.
- Continue to depart, take a bus to Daluo Town for lunch. Daluo is a quiet town on the China-Myanmar border, where you can see the unique landscape of a single tree forming a forest, and you can also see the national monument on the China-Myanmar border.
**Day Two:**
- Cruise along the Lancang River to enjoy the scenery on both banks. The Lancang River is a microcosm of the scenery of Xishuangbanna. There are quaint and beautiful Dai villages on both banks, where you can taste a variety of tropical fruits and Dai snacks, and you can also participate in the lively water-splashing festival of the Dai Garden.
- After the tour, go to the Tropical Botanical Garden to watch various tropical plants and the scenery of the Luosuo River. After returning to Jinghong, you can go to Manting Park to participate in the bonfire party in the evening and enjoy the dance and singing performances of ethnic minorities.
**Day Three:**
- Go to the place where the last minority in China - the Jino people have been reproducing and living for generations.
- Then take a bus to Wild Elephant Valley to watch elephant performances and visit the tropical rainforest.
- After the tour, return to Jinghong and end the three-day journey.
The above is a brief guide to a three-day tour of Xishuangbanna, I hope it will be helpful for your trip. Please note to adjust your itinerary according to the actual situation and make necessary preparations, wish you a pleasant journey!