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Driving southeastwards from the city center, one can see the Longhua Pagoda in the distance the moment one reaches the city’s eastern suburb. Seven stories high, the pagoda measures forty meters in height. Each story is smaller than the story below. Bronze bells are hung on each corner of the eaves; when the wind blows, the bells yield a pleasant sound.
The Longhua Temple is located next to the Longhua Pagoda. Reportedly both the temple and the pagoda were built sometime between the Five Dynasties and the Northern Song Dynasty (907-1126). The Temple is complete in terms of buildings, and on the same axis are located the Maitreya Hall (Miledian), the Hall of Heavenly Kings (Tianwangdian), the Grand Hall (Daxiongbaodian), and the Hall of Three Sages (Sanshengdian). On each side of the halls is a three-storied building containing bells and drums. The sound of “evening bells from the Longhua Temple” has been hailed as one of the eight great attractions of Shanghai.
The Longhua Pagoda and Temple area has been open to the public as Longhua Park. In late spring when peaches are in full blossom and willows in full green, people come to the park in countless numbers.
(china.org.cn)
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