The Temple of Recumbent Buddha is located about 20 kilometers from Beijing and near the Temple of Azure Clouds at the north foot of Western
Hill. There is a bronze recumbent Buddha inside the Temple, which is how it received the name Temple of Recumbent Buddha.

The temple was constructed in the reign of Zhenguan (627 A.D.- 649 A.D.) during the Tang
Dynasty (618 A.D.- 907 A.D.), it has a history of more than 1300 years.

The temple stretching north with four successive halls flanked by porches, side halls, parlors
and abbot’s room, which together form three connected courtyards. The temple itself has
three major halls, the Recumbent Buddha Hall, the Three Buddha’s Hall and the Heavenly
Kings Hall.

The Recumbent Buddha’s Hall is the most important hall in the Temple. The recumbent
Buddha inside the Hall is the statue of Sakyamuni, which is five meters long and weighs 54
tons, was built in 1321A.D. during Yuan Dynasty. His left arm straightened and his right arm
turned to support the head. It was said that this pose is that of Sakyamuni when he got
nirvana. This bronze recumbent Buddha is the biggest bronze recumbent Buddha in present China. It exquisitely caste demonstrates the pure,
solemn, yet simple style of Buddhist.

The Recumbent Buddha Hall contains not only the statue itself, but also twelve other Buddha
statues. They all seem to be grieving, in representation of the time when Buddha sat ill beneath
his bodhi tree, giving instructions to his followers.

There are a number of bodhi trees on the temple grounds, said to have been transported all the
way from India. In addition, there’s an extensive garden of peonies to the west of the temple.