Lingyin Temple is reputed “No. 1 Buddhist Temple in Southeast China”. No. 1 means the oldest, the biggest and the most famous. In the year 326AD, an Indian monk named Huili came here and was inspired by the scenery here. It is so serene and beautiful that he believed it was a dwelling of the Immortals. He had the temple built and named it "Lingyin Si”, in English “Temple of Soul"s Retreat”. During its long history of over 1670 years, it was destroyed or collapsed and rebuilt 16 times.
Lingyin Temple is reputed “No. 1 Buddhist Temple in Southeast China”. No. 1 means the oldest, the biggest and the most famous. In the year 326AD, an Indian monk named Huili came here and was inspired by the scenery here. It is so serene and beautiful that he believed it was a dwelling of the Immortals. He had the temple built and named it "Lingyin Si”, in English “Temple of Soul"s Retreat”. During its long history of over 1670 years, it was destroyed or collapsed and rebuilt 16 times.