Linggu Temple
Buddhist temple with the remarkable Beamless Hall
Linggu Temple, Purple Mountain, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
The Linggu Temple scenic area occupies a peaceful forested valley on the eastern slope of Purple Mountain, combining ancient Buddhist architecture with towering cedar groves and memorial structures in one of Nanjing's most enchanting settings. The area's star attraction is the Beamless Hall (Wuliang Dian), a remarkable 600-year-old vaulted brick structure built entirely without wooden beams — one of the most unusual surviving buildings from the Ming Dynasty. Together with the nine-story Linggu Pagoda and the surrounding forest, the area offers a contemplative, nature-immersed experience distinct from the more monumental Purple Mountain sites nearby.
A combined ticket for the Linggu Temple scenic area, Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum, and the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum costs around 100 yuan. The area is open from 6:30am to 6:00pm.
Details
Beamless Hall
The Beamless Hall, built in 1381, is one of the largest surviving brick-vaulted structures in China. Its interior — a soaring barrel vault of grey brick spanning roughly 50 meters in length — was constructed without a single wooden beam, using only interlocking bricks to create the arched ceiling. Originally built as a Buddhist temple hall, it later served as a memorial hall for fallen soldiers and now houses a small exhibition. The acoustics inside the cavernous space are remarkable, and the filtered light entering through the doorways creates an atmospheric, almost sacred quality.
Linggu Pagoda
The nine-story Linggu Pagoda, built in 1929 as part of a revolutionary martyrs' memorial complex, stands 60 meters tall and can be climbed via an interior spiral staircase. The views from the upper levels take in the surrounding cedar forest, the Purple Mountain ridgeline, and on clear days the distant city skyline. The pagoda's design blends traditional Chinese pagoda forms with modern construction, reflecting its Republican-era origins.
Forest Setting
The area's most magical quality is its forest. Towering cedar trees, many planted in the 1930s, create dense canopy cover and a carpet of needles along the pathways. The forest is particularly atmospheric on misty mornings when fog drifts through the trees. Lotus ponds near the Beamless Hall add seasonal color in summer. The forested paths connecting the area's various structures make the walk itself as rewarding as the individual sites.
Getting There
Address: Linggu Temple, Purple Mountain, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
The Linggu Temple area is in the eastern section of the Purple Mountain scenic zone, accessed via the scenic area's internal road system. Bus routes from **Xiamafang Station** on Line 2 serve the Purple Mountain area, or take a taxi from central Nanjing (roughly 20 minutes). The area can be combined with visits to the Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum and Ming Xiaoling Mausoleum using the shared ticket.
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Linggu Temple