The main attractions of Longhua Temple

Longhua Temple is different from other temples. The first entrance hall is Maitreya Temple. On the eaves of Maitreya Temple is a plaque of Longhua Temple inscribed by Zhao Puchu, a Buddhist leader and outstanding calligrapher. In front of the temple, two stone lions crouched on both sides, the left male and the right female, and the male lion stepped on a ball, indicating that they would travel around the world together. The lioness stepped on the little lion, indicating that her children and grandchildren extended. The base of the lion is Mount Sumi, and these two lions are called "Three Kings Lions". There are peonies carved into the king of flowers, phoenixes carved into the king of birds and lions carved into the king of beasts on Mount Sumi, so they are called the Three Kings Lions. The temples with three kings and lions have the highest specifications. There is a brick carving of "Nine Lions" on the front wall of Maitreya Hall, which means "saving the world". When you enter Maitreya Temple, you are confronted with Maitreya incarnation, smiling and shirtless.

Behind Maitreya is an Amitabha Buddha, the leader of the western paradise, holding the Golden Lotus Platform in his left hand and the seal in his right hand to guide people to the paradise. On the right-hand side of Maitreya Hall is the bell tower, which is dedicated to the "Great Wishing Earth Hidden King". There are three saints in it, one of whom is the King of Earth Treasure, who serves Ming Dow on the left and Gong Min on the right. Opposite the bell tower is the Drum Tower, dedicated to Guan Yu, the "Temple Protector Galand". On the left is Guan Ping, and on the right is Zhou Cang carrying the dragon crescent moon blade for him. Because Guan Yu is the God of Garan (the patron saint of Buddhist temples), his face here is golden, not the red-faced Guan Gong that people usually see. In front of them, the Guangze Dragon King is also enshrined. Guan Yu became more and more famous because of his meritorious service, and the Dragon King had to give way.

On the back eaves of the Maitreya Temple, there is a plaque "Black and Big". Daxiong is the honorific title of Buddha, so when Maitreya was appointed as the heir, it was called "Hei Zhengda Xiong". There is Longhua Temple Fair in March and April. There is an old saying in Shanghai, "Go to Longhua on March 3rd to see peach blossoms". It is said that the third day of the third lunar month is the day when Maitreya becomes a cloth bag monk. In memory of him, when the peach blossoms in spring, Longhua Temple held a memorial ceremony, which attracted many people and vendors and formed the present temple fair. Longhua Temple Fair is very lively every year, with dragon and lion dances, street crafts in old Shanghai and local specialties for sale.