The Jade Buddha Temple is located in a modern and busy area of Shanghai. The location itself creates a contrast, China is most revered and historic statue of Buddha is in a modern development environment. This is the story of modern China, where traditional culture flourishes side by side with economic progress and modernization. The temple was built in 1882 to house two jade Buddha statues that were brought from Burma to China by a monk called Huigen. The story behind the statue is just as captivating as its exquisite craftsmanship.

According to legend, during the Qing Dynasty, a monk called Huigen Pudu top of the mountain had been on a pilgrimage to the land of Buddha, or in colloquial terms to India. Had passed through Tibet and returned to China via Burma. In Burma, a Chinese businessman has donated five jade Buddha statues for the monk, the monk later returned to Shanghai and a temple built using funds donated in the Jiangwan area. The original temple was destroyed in the revolution against the Qing dynasty in 1928 and the temple was rebuilt in the architectural style of the palaces of the Song dynasty. As with many modern Chinese temples which was based on the pure land of streams and Chan Mahayana Buddhist movement. Today, the temple only two other houses in the original five jade statues.

The temple consists of three rooms known as the Maitreya (Compassion), Daoxing Baodian and Sanshengdian. After passing the second chamber or Daoxing Baodian, one arrives at the Tower of Jade Buddha, where the two statues are enshrined. The two statues are carved white jade as a whole and show the Buddha in two positions, the meeting shows the statue of Buddha in a state of meditation after obtaining enlightenment. The other shows a statue of Buddha in a reclining position, which represents his death and the statue remains in the exquisitely carved mahogany armchair.

Located in a modern and busy area of Shanghai, a hotel in Shanghai would not be difficult to find. Shanghai hotel in this area offers travelers the chance to explore the variety of attractions such as the Jade Buddha Temple.

Naveen Marasinghe is an Online Marketing Executive eMarketingEye is undertaking a search engine marketing offering integrated Internet marketing and specializes in online travel service and the hospitality industry.