Zhenru Temple — Attraction in Shanghai

Lovely, quiet temple including a pagoda and gardens, situated a relaxed 10 minute walk from Zhenru Subway station (Line 11). It's a great place to go and explore, whether you want to walk around or just sit down and take in the quiet atmosphere.

The garden is shaped like a rectangle with different gardens and buildings that you can walk into. You could expect to spend 30 minutes to 1 hour there. It's incredibly well maintained and clean, the people who work there are also really lovely and friendly.

Location: Easy to find. Go to Zhenru Station (line 11), get out at exit 5, turn right and right again down Beishi Road, walk for around 10 minutes to the crossroads and turn right, you'll be able to see the Temple's East Gate entrance with 2 statues out the front (that's where the ticket office was when I visited). On the way to and from the subway, you'll also have the chance to walk through a more local and older looking part of Shanghai.

Cost: 10 yuan

Food: There are also local places to eat around the temple if...

A beautiful temple that’s not as filled with visitors or tourists as the other more well known temples in this city, but Zhenru temple is still known among locals as one of the four great temples. Its seclusion is a blessing as you can really embrace the peaceful atmosphere to pray (if you wish) or to admire the scenery - some architecture dates back to the Yuan dynasty. I went on 2 May which was the second day of the labor day public holiday but it wasn’t busy at all, such a relief.

There’s also an area dedicated to feeding pigeons (wild but willing to return to the temple) with bird seeds available to buy through a kiosk.

Entry was 10 yuan (purchased at entry) and it was walking distance from Zhenru station on line 11/14.

Highly recommend if you want to see a quieter, traditional side of Shanghai that’s not too affected by tourism...

You want a secret spot in Shanghai, that barely any tourists (at least from western countries) find? I don't know why this is not a top10 attraction, because it looks like one. Well, I guess it is because it is hidden between fishmarkets in a suburban area of a megacity. If you want to see a beautifully refurbished temple which is almost never crowded,...