Northern Jiangxi

Donglin Temple Travel Guide

The Ancestral Hall of Pure Land Buddhism · The Three Laughs of Tiger Creek · Huiyuan

Donglin Temple is located on the northwest foothills of Mount Lu. It was the monastery established by Huiyuan of the Eastern Jin and the birthplace of the Pure Land School in China. The story of the 'Three Laughs at Tiger Creek' took place here—Huiyuan would see guests off only as far as Tiger Creek. On one occasion, while talking with Tao Yuanming and Lu Xiujing so engrossed that they lost all sense of time, they crossed the creek bridge and the three of them looked at each other and laughed heartily.

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonAll year, best from April to October

Suggested stay1.5 hours

Key highlightsMahavira Hall · Huxi Bridge · Lotus Pond · Ancient Camphor Tree

TrafficChartered car from the foot of Jiujiang or Lushan for about 30 minutes

RemindIn religious places, please keep quiet; do not take photos of monks at will.

Donglin Temple is located on the northwest foothills of Mount Lu in Jiujiang, Jiangxi, and was founded by the eminent monk Huiyuan of the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the 11th year of Taiyuan. Huiyuan gathered 123 monks and laypeople here and vowed in front of Amitabha to be reborn in the Western Pure Land. This event marked the beginning of the Pure Land School in China, and Donglin Temple has since been honored as the "ancestral temple."

Main Highlights

Three Laughs at Tiger Creek

The Tiger Creek Bridge in front of the temple carries a famous scene in Chinese cultural history: Huiyuan lived on Mount Lu for thirty years and never crossed the creek to see off guests; one day, while talking happily with Tao Yuanming and Lu Xiujing, they unknowingly crossed the bridge. A tiger in the mountains roared, and the three looked at each other and laughed. This scene, featuring figures from Confucianism, Buddhism, and Daoism all together, has been repeatedly depicted in paintings by later generations.

Halls and Lotus Pond

The existing temple was rebuilt in recent years near the original site and is grand in scale. On the central axis are the Hall of Heavenly Kings, the Mahavira Hall, and the Sutra Library. The lotus pond in front of the hall is filled with lotus leaves in summer, making it the most photogenic spot in the temple. The ancient trees around the temple, together with old trees such as the Six Dynasties Pine at the original site, create a unique serenity characteristic of the northern foothills of Mount Lu.

Suggested Route

Classic: Shanmen (Mountain Gate) → Hall of Heavenly Kings → Mahavira Hall → Lotus Pond → Tiger Creek Bridge, about 1.5 hours.
Combine with Xilin Temple, Bailudong Academy, and Lushan Guling for a two-day Mount Lu trip.

Practical Information

Donglin Temple is at the foot of Mount Lu, about a twenty-minute drive from Jiujiang city, and not far from the Mount Lu cable car station. The temple is an active religious site, and the route may be adjusted during ceremonies. It is very close to Xilin Temple and can be visited together.