** Jade Buddha Hall

To the west of the Grand Hall is the Jade Buddha Hall, which houses a jade statue of Sakyamuni after he became Buddha. The 1.7-meter-tall statue is carved from a single piece of Burmese white jade and is decorated with jewels. The statue was brought from Burma and donated by Master Priest Yong Xing, chairman of the Bodhi Association in Hong Kong. Out of great concern for the religious development on the mainland, priest Yong Xing personally came to take part in the Buddhist rites. In 1986 he brought the jade statue from Burma to Shanghai to present to Longhua Temple. On October 15, 1987 he and Master Priest Jue Xian came to Longhua Temple to preside over the opening ceremonies of the jade Buddha statue.

** Hall of the Three Saints

The Hall of the Three Saints is the hall of the saints of the Buddhist Western World. In the middle is the Buddha Amitabha, which means "boundless light" and "boundless longevity" in Sanskrit. He is the Buddha of the Buddhist Great Vehicle ("Mahayana ") in charge of the Western Paradise and the chief idol of the Buddhist Jingtu ("pure land") sect. According to Buddhist scripture, after he died and became a bodhisattva he was named Fa Zang, and vowed to fulfill 48 promises. After a long practice, the Buddha Amitabha attained the Buddha hood. Buddhist scripture tells people that if they chant his name and truly believe in him, one day they may reach his "pure land". "Chanting Buddha" means to chant the name "Buddha Amitabha."

On the left of the Buddha Amitabha is Kwan-yin, his assistant. On the right of the Buddha Amitabha is his assistant, the Bodhisattva Da Shi Zhi (Mahasthamaprapta " in Sanskrit), a bodhisattva of the "Great Vehicle" who enlightens the world with his light of wisdom and helps all living creatures in suffering.

Together, the three are worshipped as the "Three Saints of the Western World".

Behind the Hall of the Three Saints is the Abbot's Hall. On the first floor is a sitting room and on the second floor is the abbot's chamber, or "fang zhang" in Chinese ("fang" means "square" and "zhang" means "10 feet"). Fang zhang is where the head monk of a monastery lives, preaches and receives Buddhist visitors. According to Buddhist scripture, although the abbot's room is only 10 square feet, it can hold a whole multitude of people. Hence, all abbots' rooms are called fang zhang .

To the east of the Abbot's Hall is a peony garden where a 100-year-old peony bush grows. It was first planted during the reign of Emperor Xianfeng of the Qing Dynasty and was later transplanted here. The bush reaches full bloom in May every year.

Behind the Hall of the Three Saints is the Sharing Fragrance Vegetarian Restaurant for Buddhist and secular travelers.

To the west of Longhua Temple is Longhua Park.

"Admiring Peach Blossoms at Longhua" is one of Shanghai's oldest folk customs.