Nianhua Temple

Address: No. 61 Dashiqiao Hutong, Xicheng District, Beijing The temple was first built in 1581, the 9th year of the Wanli period of the Ming dynasty. Feng Bao, a eunuch of the Directorate of Ceremonial, built the temple for the famous monk Pianrong from Western Shu under the order of Empress Dowager Xiaoding. It was originally named Qianfo Temple. In 1734, the 12th year of the Yongzheng period of the Qing dynasty, the temple was rebuilt and renamed Nianhua Temple. According to the elderly in the hutong, the temple has never been open to the public. The mountain gate has been renovated and painted red. Some of the rafters have been replaced with new ones. The window frames look quite old, probably from before. The gable wall is carved with lotus leaves and flowers, which look lifelike. More than 400 years have passed. When will the chanting of sutras and the burning of incense be heard again in Nianhua Temple?