Luohan Temple: 1000 Years of Silence in the Heart of Chongqing
I passed by this temple three times. On the fourth, I found a portal to ancient China.
Honestly? I didn’t plan to visit it at all.
Chongqing is full of noise—Hongyadong, the cable car over the Yangtze River, trains passing through buildings. And temples... well, I’ve seen temples before. I thought this was just another one, nothing special.
I was wrong. And now this place is the first thing I recommend to anyone visiting Chongqing.
How I Fell Through Time
Exit Xiaoshizi Metro Station (Lines 1 and 6, Exit 6)—and you’re surrounded by the usual Chongqing: glass, concrete, street vendors shouting, endless streams of people. Then you turn a corner, and the world switches off.
Yellow walls. Red columns. Silence.
Step through the gate of Luohan Temple—and you’re in the 11th century. Just one step separates the bustling metropolis from millennia-old history. I stood at the entrance, unable to believe such a transition was even possible.
Secret #1: 400 Faces That Look Through Centuries
First, head to Gufoya (古佛岩)—a 20-meter wall covered entirely with stone statues from the Song Dynasty. There are over 400 of them, each with a unique expression.
Some smile, some are thoughtful, others gaze sternly at you. I spent half an hour just studying the faces. The folds of their robes, fingers arranged in mudras, eyes—there’s still a light in them. The most surprising part? There are almost no tourists here. Everyone rushes past, leaving you alone with ancient history.
Secret #2: 524 Lives in One Hall
Next, visit the Hall of Five Hundred Arhats. Except there aren’t 500, but 524. And no two faces are alike.
Fat and thin, laughing and sorrowful, meditating or standing with staffs. Locals believe you should pick an arhat you like, count from them to your age—and the one you land on will reveal your destiny.
Photography is prohibited inside the hall. And rightly so. Some things are meant to be seen only with your own eyes.
Secret #3: The Iconic View Worth the Visit
There’s a spot in the temple I sought out specifically—a small round opening in the wall. Through it, you get a breathtaking view.
No skyscrapers. No hints of the 21st century. Just the temple—curved roofs, carved beams, tiles reaching toward the sky. The grandeur of ancient architecture framed perfectly.
I positioned myself so the round opening captured only this beauty. No trees, no distractions—just lines, shapes, and light. I caught the moment when the setting sun gilded the tiles. People on social media still ask me where this is.
The best times are early morning (when the sun begins to illuminate the roofs) or an hour before sunset (when the light turns soft and warm).
Secret #4: The Staircase Guides Don’t Mention
Most tourists enter, glance around, and leave. But you should go upstairs.
On the second floor, near the Weituo Hall, there’s a staircase. Climb it—and pause. From here, you get a bird’s-eye view of the temple: ancient tiled roofs curved like dragon spines, courtyards, trees, red columns. And not a single skyscraper in sight if you choose the right angle.
Secret #5: A Café Overlooking a Thousand Years
Next to the temple is Wadinding Café (瓦顶顶咖啡店). Climb to the rooftop of the neighboring building, order tea (about 40 yuan), and just watch.
Below are the ancient roofs of Luohan Temple. Carved ridges, red columns, moss-covered tiles. Around you is modern Chongqing, but from here, it’s almost inaudible. The best time is from 4:30 PM to 7:00 PM. First, the setting sun gilds the temple, then around 6:30 PM, the lights come on.
I sat there for an hour, sipping tea and watching the colors change. And I thought: this is perfect meditation.
Secret #6: The Film That Made the Temple Famous
By the way, this is where the iconic Chinese comedy "Crazy Stone" (2006) was filmed. If you haven’t seen it—find it. It’s a story about how the temple and modernity collide in the most unexpected ways. Fans of the film still come here to stand in the same courtyards.
Secret #7: Morning When the Temple Belongs to You
I visited twice. The first time—during the day. Beautiful, but crowded.
The second time—at 7:30 AM, right at opening.
Morning mist still lingered in the courtyard. Monks were chanting sutras, roosters crowed somewhere beyond the walls. I entered Gufoya as the sun began to gild the stones and realized: this is it. The real deal. The reason to wake up at five even on vacation.
Practical Tips—Tried and Tested
· Price: 20 yuan (includes three incense sticks and a candle). On Fridays, tourists get a discount—10 yuan.
· Hours: 7:30 AM – 5:30 PM (last entry at 5:00 PM).
· Best times: either 7:30–9:00 AM (quiet, morning magic) or 4:00–5:30 PM (sunset and lighting).
· How to get there: Metro Lines 1 or 6, Xiaoshizi Station (小什字), Exit 6—just a 2-minute walk.
· Dress code: no shorts or overly revealing clothing. This is an active temple.
Nearby Attractions
The temple is steps away from:
· Jiefangbei (main pedestrian street)
· Hongyadong (10–15 minutes on foot)
· Chaotianmen (view of the river confluence)
· Changjiang Suodao (Yangtze River cable car)
The Perfect Chongqing Evening
Here’s what I did: at 4:30 PM, I entered the temple. Found the iconic round opening, caught the sunset light. Wandered through Gufoya, made a wish with the arhats. At 5:30 PM, I left and climbed to Wadinding Café. Ordered tea, settled by the window, and watched the temple lights come on.
Then I descended and was at Hongyadong within 10 minutes, just as it lit up with a million lights.
The perfect evening. No crowds, no queues, no rush.
In Short for Scroll-Happy Readers
Luohan Temple isn’t just a temple. It’s a portal to another Chongqing. Quiet, ancient, authentic. Right in the middle of a bustling metropolis. 20 yuan, 2 minutes from the metro, and you’re a thousand years away from modernity.
And don’t forget to find that iconic round opening. It’s worth it.
I left as the sun had set and neon lights lit up the streets. I turned back for one last look—and saw the temple’s yellow wall glowing in the dark. As if the candle lit a thousand years ago still burns within.