Built in 326 A.D. Lingyin Temple is among China’s most esteemed Buddhist monasteries. Positioned beautifully at the foot of Lingyin Mountain, the monastery has been destroyed quite a number of times due to war. As a result the temple has been reconstructed about 16 times.  Located in close proximity to the Lingyin Temple is Feilai Peak which features ancient Buddhist stone carvings.

One of Northern China’s oldest temples, the Lingyin Temple is identified as one of the country’s ten most prominent Buddhist temples. Located amidst the spectacular environs of the West Lake, the temple was named a protected site in 1961 due to its immense cultural and historical significance. The site is also an imperative centre for research related mainly to the Buddhist culture of China. Dating back to the early Eastern Jin Dynasty (317 - 420AD) Lingyin Temple is said to have been envisioned by an Indian monk. The monk who arrived at the area was hugely inspired by the divine nature of the surroundings.  The scenic beauty made him think that it was a place where immortals retreated. Therefore, this Indian monk built a temple and named it Lingyin Temple which means ‘The Temple of the Soul's Retreat’.

Among the many distinctive attractions in Hangzhou Feilai Peak is a must see. It is a 700 feet tall limestone mountain completely different from the surrounding sandstone mountains. Over 330 different stone statues built during the 10th to the 14th centuries are sheltered by the caves of the mountain.  There are statues of different poses at Feilai Peak and the most notable of them all however is the one of Laughing Buddha.

Staying at a hotel near Lingyin Temple and Feilai Peak such as Shangri-La Hotel, Hangzhou will make the visit to this historic tourist attraction much more exciting and memorable.