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Longhua Gu Si, Shanghai is one of the premium religious attractions of the city. The temple, located on the Longhua Road boasts of a long history. It was built in 242 AD and was heavily damaged during wars. The temple underwent reconstruction and renovation during the reign of the Emperor Tongzhi and Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty. Longhua Gu Shi thus is not only the oldest temple of Shanghai, it is also the largest in the city. The temple sprawls over an area of 20,000 square meters and its architectural proportion is about 5,000 square meters. The temple comprises of numerous halls that includes the Maitreya Hall, Devajara Hall, Mahavira Hall, Devajara Hall, Three Sages Hall, Abbot's Hall and the Sutras Keeping Hall. The three treasures of the temple that include Dazang sutras, the gold seals and the Buddhist statues are distributed amongst these halls. The temple also boasts of accessory halls like the Bell Tower and the Drum Tower, which features hexagonal windows and curved eaves. The bell tower boasts of a 3.3-ton bronze bell, which is rung at midnight every New Year's Eve. The overall plan of the courtyard reflects the traditional style of Buddhist symmetry and the Chinese concept of beauty. Located beside the side corridors of the temple are the Longhua Hotel, a vegetarian restaurant, and a room featuring small golden statues. The temple is open on all days of the week from 7 am to 4.30 pm and the cost of admission to enter the temple is Y5.
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