Yongfu Temple

Tucked into the wooded slopes of Shisun Peak just west of Lingyin Temple, Yongfu Temple offers a tranquil retreat within the scenic hills of Hangzhou. The monastery traces its origins to around 326 during the Eastern Jin dynasty, when it was established by Huili, the same Indian monk credited with founding Lingyin Temple. After falling into ruin over the centuries, the complex was rebuilt in the early 2000s, designed to integrate seamlessly into the surrounding forest and tea plantations.

Rather than following the rigid central axis typical of large imperial-era temples, Yongfu is arranged like a classical Chinese landscape garden. Its halls and pavilions are dispersed across five terraced courtyards that climb the hillside, linked by flagstone paths, bamboo groves, and mountain streams. Notable stops along the path include the Guanyin Hall, the sutra pavilion, and the Mahavira Hall, which enshrines large bronze Buddhist statues cast in the Tang dynasty style.

At the higher terraces, viewpoints open out over the tree canopy toward the waters of West Lake in the distance. With quiet courtyards and an on-site tea house serving local Longjing green tea, the temple is widely regarded by visitors as one of the most serene and contemplative stops in the Lingyin area.