Dajue Temple

Dajue Temple - the Temple of Great Awakening - sits at the foot of Beijing's Western Hills in Haidian district and ranks among the oldest Chan Buddhist monasteries in the region. It was founded under the Khitan-led Liao Dynasty in the 11th century, though most surviving architecture dates from the Ming and Qing periods. The temple is famous for its eight successive courtyards, terraced down a flowing mountain spring, and for a 300-year-old magnolia tree whose white blossom draws pilgrims and Beijing families each spring. The complex is listed as a Major Historical Site by the PRC. Visitors find a quiet alternative to the crowded inner-city temples and can extend the trip with a hike into the nearby cave hills.