Founded in 1882, the Jade Buddha Temple (Yu Fo Si) in Shanghai is a popular tourist destination for its two magnificent white jade Burmese Buddha statues.

History of Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si)

The Yu Fo Si temple was founded in 1882 to house two white jade Buddhas brought from Burma the year before by a monk of Putuo Shan. Destroyed and then abandoned after the 1911, the temple buildings were reconstructed on the same site in 1918-28.

Now a monastery of Chan (Zen) Buddhism, the Jade Buddha Temple serves foreign tourists and local devotees in equal measures.

What to See at Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si)

The Jade Buddha Temple is not famed for its architecture, which is very new and built in a standard Song Dynasty style, but the two Buddhas housed within. Both are made of white jade in Burma and depict Shakyamuni Buddha (the historical Buddha).

The most impressive of the two is the seated Buddha, 2 meters (6 feet 5 inches) tall, weighing 205 kg (452 lb) and decorated with semi-precious stones. The other statue is a serene and beautiful Reclining Buddha about 1 meter (3 feet 4 inches) long.

Quick Facts on Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si)

Site Information
Names:	Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si) · Yu Fo Si
Categories:	monasteries; temples
Dates:	1882; rebuilt 1918-28
Status:	active
Visitor and Contact Information
Coordinates:	31.243380° N, 121.440167° E
Address:	Anyuan Lu 170 Shanghai, China
Phone:	021/6266-3668
Hours:	Daily 8am-4:30pm
Lodging:	View hotels near Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si)

Note: This information was accurate when first published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours and prices can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

References

1. Frances Wood, Blue Guide China, 2nd ed. (New York: WW Norton, 2001), 278-79.
2. Yu Fo Si (Jade Buddha Temple) - Frommer's Shanghai

More Information

• Photos of Jade Buddha Temple (Yufo Si) - here on Sacred Destinations