1Highlights
Lingyin is among Hangzhou's oldest and most active temples, founded in the Eastern Jin dynasty roughly 1,700 years ago. It sits inside the valley of Feilai Peak, and that valley is itself the reason to come: the cliffs along it carry more than 300 Buddhist figures carved from the Five Dynasties through the Song and Yuan, an open-air grotto museum rather than a decorative touch. The best known is a broadly smiling Maitreya at the foot of the rock, which a surprising number of visitors walk straight past. The visit therefore has a fixed shape โ you pass through Feilai Peak first and enter the temple second, then climb the axis past the Main Hall, Medicine Buddha Hall and Jigong Hall. That sequence is also why the ticketing works the way it does, and why it catches people out.
- Founded
- Eastern Jin, about 1,700 years ago
- Draw
- Feilai Peak grottoes plus the monastery
- Carvings
- 300+, Five Dynasties to Yuan
- Tickets
- Two: scenic area plus temple
- Reservation
- Needed on public holidays
- Location
- About 6 km northwest of the lake
- Duration
- Half a day, about 3 hours
2Tickets
Lingyin runs a two-ticket system, and this is the single most important practical fact on this page. You first buy the Feilai Peak scenic-area ticket (reference about ยฅ45), and then, already inside the scenic area, the Lingyin incense ticket (reference about ยฅ30) which is the temple entry itself. The scenic ticket alone gets you the grottoes but not through the temple gate. Reference figures come from recent public listings; the official listing on your date governs. On statutory holidays the temple also operates advance reservation through its official channels.
| Feilai Peak scenic ticket | Reference about ยฅ45 | Covers the cliff carvings, Qinglin Cave and the valley โ not the temple itself |
|---|---|---|
| Lingyin incense ticket | Reference about ยฅ30 | The temple entry, bought on top of the scenic ticket |
| Concessions | Per operator policy | Students, seniors and children with valid original ID |
| Yongfu and Taoguang Temples | Within the Feilai Peak area | Two quieter temples further up the valley, no extra ticket |
It is two tickets, and the reservation is set by the temple, not by the seller๏ผTwo things regularly go wrong here. First, many visitors buy one ticket and assume they are done โ in practice it is Feilai Peak plus Lingyin, roughly ยฅ75 combined at recent reference prices, and even if the temple is the only thing you want, you still enter through the scenic area. Second, on Spring Festival, Qingming, Labour Day and National Day the temple runs advance reservation on its official channels and may cap entry. No ticket seller, platform or tour product can waive that requirement, because it is the temple's own rule. If you buy a bundled product, read it carefully to see whether the reservation step is genuinely included or whether you still have to complete it yourself.
The lakeshore is free, but the sights around it are each ticketed separately๏ผThis is the single most useful thing to understand about Hangzhou. The West Lake shoreline is genuinely free and open 24 hours โ the loop, Su Causeway, Bai Causeway and Broken Bridge cost nothing and need no reservation. That is unusual for a Chinese site of this rank, and it leads visitors into two opposite mistakes. The first is assuming everything is free: the island boat, Leifeng Pagoda, Lingyin Temple, Yue Fei Temple and the private lakeside gardens are all separate paid items, and Lingyin in particular needs two tickets rather than one. The second is the reverse โ there is no such thing as a "West Lake admission ticket", so anyone selling you one, or a compulsory-spend "lake day tour" near Hubin, is touting. Buy from official counters or official online channels only.
These five sit in three different directions โ do not try to do them in one day๏ผHangzhou's sights are often listed as if they were all "around West Lake", which produces badly broken itineraries. In practice they fall into three groups. On the lake itself: the shoreline loop and Leifeng Pagoda, which sits on the southern shore and is reachable on foot or by shared bike from Su Causeway โ these two genuinely combine into one day. In the western hills: Lingyin Temple and the Longjing tea villages, roughly 6โ10 km west and southwest of the lake with no direct metro; they share the same direction and can be paired in one day if you start early. West of the city: Xixi Wetland, about 5 km away in a different direction again, which wants a half day of its own. A realistic Hangzhou plan is therefore two full days minimum for the lake plus one hill day, with Xixi added only if you have a third.
Klook
Compare products that cover both tickets โ and check the reservation step
Because entry needs two separate tickets and holidays add a reservation, a useful product here is one that makes the sequence explicit rather than one that promises to skip it. Klook lists Lingyin and Feilai Peak admission along with English-guided Hangzhou day tours that combine the temple with West Lake or the Longjing tea hills, payable with an overseas card. On the product page, confirm whether both tickets are included, whether any required holiday reservation is handled for you or still yours to complete, the pickup point and the guide language.
- Confirm the product covers Feilai Peak and the temple, not just one of them
- Check exactly which items the product covers โ Hangzhou sells almost everything separately
- Prices, opening hours and reservation rules follow the operator's notice for your own date
- Read the change and refund terms before paying
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.
3Getting There
Runs direct from downtown to the Lingyin terminus in about 30 minutes
Downtown to Lingyin, about 30 minutes depending on traffic
No direct metro; change to bus or taxi at Huanglong Sports Centre or similar
Possible but uphill for the last stretch; not the default choice
Arriving before 8 AM is worth more here than anywhere else on this list๏ผLingyin is a coach-tour destination, and the groups concentrate in the morning. Getting there before 8 AM means seeing both the carvings and the halls at something close to their intended pace โ which matters more at a working monastery than at a viewpoint. On the way out, taxi queues build at the gate, so walking down to the main road to hail one is usually faster than waiting. If you are continuing to the Longjing tea villages, this is the same direction and a taxi between them is short.
4Route & Photos
The route is fixed by the geography: Feilai Peak entrance โ Qinglin and Yuru Caves โ the Maitreya carving โ Lingyin Temple โ Main Hall โ Medicine Buddha Hall โ Jigong Hall, with the option of continuing up the valley to Yongfu and Taoguang Temples. About three hours in total, longer if you climb toward North Peak.
The carvings come before the temple โ do not reverse it๏ผBecause you enter through the scenic area, the cliff carvings are physically first. It is worth treating them as a destination rather than a corridor: the signature Maitreya sits right at the foot of the rock near the start, and it is genuinely common for visitors focused on reaching the temple to walk past it without looking up. The inscriptions beside the figures in Qinglin and Yuru Caves are dated, which is what makes the valley a grotto museum rather than a set of decorations.
Recommended Route
- 1
Feilai Peak entrance
Buy the scenic ticket and follow the valley path in along the carvings
- 2
The Maitreya carving
Feilai Peak's best-known figure, broadly smiling at the foot of the rock
- 3
Qinglin and Yuru Caves
Carvings from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan; the dated inscriptions beside them repay a slow look
- 4
Lingyin Temple
Buy the incense ticket here; the axis runs from the Heavenly Kings Hall to the Main Hall
- 5
Medicine Buddha and Jigong Halls
The flanking halls; Jigong Hall is particular to Lingyin
- 6
Yongfu and Taoguang Temples
Further up the valley and much quieter; you can continue climbing toward North Peak
Best Photo Spots
The Maitreya at Feilai Peak
Lingyin's icon; backlight gives the outline the most depth and early morning keeps it empty
In front of the Heavenly Kings Hall
Red walls, yellow tiles and old trees โ the classic Jiangnan monastery frame
The valley path to Yongfu
Fewer people and better shade than the main axis, with tea terraces appearing higher up
5Food & Stay
| Lingyin vegetarian hallVegetarian noodles and dishes | Reference ยฅ30โ60 per person | The temple food is well known, but it serves at fixed hours โ check before counting on it |
|---|---|---|
| Teahouses near the gateLongjing tea and tea snacks | Reference ยฅ50โ100 per person | Plenty around the Feilai Peak entrance for a sit-down after the climb |
| Back in the cityHangzhou cuisine | Reference ยฅ60โ120 per person | More choice and better value; keep the proper meal for town |
The vegetarian hall is worth trying, but it keeps its own hours๏ผLingyin's vegetarian noodles have a real reputation, and eating them inside the monastery is a different experience from eating them anywhere else. The catch is practical: serving runs at set hours rather than all day, so if this is part of your plan, confirm the current times before you arrive rather than after. If you miss the window there are quick options at the gate, and the city is thirty minutes away.
Where to Stay
- East shore / Hubin โ convenient for both Lingyin and the lake. Reference ยฅ400โ800 a night.
- Lingyin / North Peak area โ tea terraces and hillside quiet, a contemplative base. Reference ยฅ600โ1200 a night.
6Tips & Pitfalls
- Two tickets, not one. Feilai Peak plus the Lingyin incense ticket โ about ยฅ75 combined at recent reference prices โ and both are needed to pass the temple gate.
- Reserve for public holidays. Spring Festival, Qingming, Labour Day and National Day run advance booking on the temple's official channels.
- Arrive before 8 AM. You will be ahead of the coach groups, and both the carvings and the halls are calm.
- Incense is provided inside. The temple offers sticks free of charge, so there is no need for the expensive ones sold outside the gate.
- Wear shoes you can climb in. There are a lot of steps, and more again if you continue to Yongfu and Taoguang.
- No flash in the halls. Photography etiquette matters here; this is a working monastery, not an exhibition.
- Ticket prices, boat fares, opening hours and reservation rules all change; verify the official listing for your own travel date rather than relying on any figure quoted online.
- Set up Alipay before you arrive โ Hangzhou is close to cashless, and shared bikes, boat tickets and small restaurants all expect a scan.
7Frequently Asked Questions
How many tickets does Lingyin Temple need?
Two. The Feilai Peak scenic ticket (reference about ยฅ45) plus the Lingyin incense ticket (reference about ยฅ30), roughly ยฅ75 combined, and both are required to enter the temple. The scenic ticket alone gets you the cliff carvings but not through the temple gate. The official listing on your date governs.
Do I need to reserve Lingyin Temple in advance?
On ordinary days you can usually buy on site. On statutory holidays โ Spring Festival, Qingming, Labour Day, National Day โ the temple runs advance reservation through its official channels and may cap entry. That rule is set by the temple, so no ticket platform can waive it; if you buy a bundled product, check whether the reservation step is included or still yours to complete.
What is the relationship between Feilai Peak and the temple?
Feilai Peak is the valley the temple sits in, and it is itself an open-air grotto museum with more than 300 carvings from the Five Dynasties to the Yuan. You reach the temple by walking through the scenic area, which is exactly why both tickets are required.
How do I get to Lingyin Temple?
Bus 7 runs direct from downtown to the Lingyin terminus in about 30 minutes, and a taxi is roughly ยฅ30โ50. There is no direct metro, so change to a bus or taxi at Huanglong Sports Centre or a similar station. Coming back, walk down to the main road rather than queueing at the gate.
Can Lingyin Temple and the Longjing tea villages be done in one day?
Yes โ they lie in the same general direction west and southwest of the lake, and a taxi between them is short. Start at Lingyin before 8 AM, finish the grottoes and halls in about three hours, then move to a tea village for the afternoon. What does not work is trying to add Xixi Wetland, which is a different direction entirely.
Combine With
Other Hangzhou sights that genuinely pair well with this one
Before You Go
The practical guides you will actually need here
All Hangzhou attractions
Klook
Compare day tours that pair Lingyin with the tea hills
Lingyin and the Longjing tea villages share a direction and neither has a direct metro, which is the practical case for a car or an organised day. Klook lists Hangzhou day tours that combine the temple, the tea terraces and the lake with an English-speaking guide and overseas-card payment. Check the running order, how long the group stays at each stop, whether admission is genuinely included, and how the return to the city is arranged.
- Check exactly which items the product covers โ Hangzhou sells almost everything separately
- Prices, opening hours and reservation rules follow the operator's notice for your own date
- Read the change and refund terms before paying
Disclosure: this is an affiliate link. We may earn a small commission if you buy through it, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products we would use ourselves.
GoChinaTravel Editorial Team
Our team of China travel researchers combines on-the-ground contributor insights, official government sources, and traveler community feedback to create the most detailed English-language China guides available. Every guide is fact-checked against primary sources (NIA, 12367, official attraction websites, Railway 12306) before publication.