Walking Jinci in Taiyuan: halls, springs and the stories between
Follow Jinci from its theatre stage to the Sage Mother Hall, ancient trees, spring channels, pagoda and Tang stele, with local legends kept in their proper place.
Travel topic
Spiritual travel
Temples, pilgrimage routes and respectful visits to sacred places.
Curated reading
23 guides
A First Visit to Shangri-La: Monastery, Wetlands and Old-Town Evenings
An introduction to Songzanlin, Lamuyangcuo, Napa Lake and Yila grassland, Dukezong, the great prayer wheel and Pudacuo, with a place for Tibetan food and a sensible highland pace.
Planning Putuoshan: Temples, Island Walks and the Ferry
Choose a one- or two-day route around Putuoshan’s temple areas, then check the sea crossing and local transport that make it possible.
A First Stop in Xining: Museums, Monasteries and Market Food
Spend time in Xining before heading across Qinghai: the provincial museum, Beichan Temple, Kumbum Monastery, Dongguan Mosque and local food around Mojia Street and Shuijing Lane.
Mount Emei in Winter: Snow, Temples and the Golden Summit
Plan a winter visit to Mount Emei around snowy forest walks, the Golden Summit and temples, with sensible options for transport, overnight stays and hot springs.
Seda and Larung Gar: An Overland Guide to Sichuan's Monastic Valley
A practical and respectful guide to Seda and Larung Gar in western Sichuan, covering the overland route, monastic etiquette, altitude, weather and the region's cultural sites.
Seda and Larung Gar: A Four-Day Road Trip from Chengdu
A practical guide to the four-day overland loop from Chengdu to Seda County and Larung Gar, with notes on transport, altitude, food, lodging and respectful behaviour at a living Buddhist community.
Donggar Monastery: A Quiet Guide to Seda's Nyingma Center
A guide to Donggar Monastery outside Seda: its Nyingma history, the Medicine Buddha Tower, festival dates, how to get there and how to behave once inside.
Quanzhou in Five Days: Temples, Bridges and the Old Port City
A five-day walking itinerary through Quanzhou's old city, its multi-faith monuments, maritime museums and outlying stone bridge and coastal villages.
Following Laozi Through Luoyang: Museum, Pass and Mountain
Where to find Laozi's legacy around Luoyang: a free memorial hall in the old town, Hangu Pass and the Confucius meeting site, and the trails and inns of Laojun Mountain.
Luoyang's Heluo Heartland: A Guide to Longma Foutu Temple
A guide to the Heluo region around Luoyang, its Hetu and Luoshu traditions, and the steles and riverside setting of Longma Foutu Temple.
Five Festivals That Shape Lhasa’s Year
Losar, Shoton, Lhabab Duchen, the Linka Festival and Ganden Ngamchoe, with context on what happens and how to plan around shifting Tibetan calendar dates.
Gannan: Monasteries and Grasslands on China's Tibetan Plateau
Where to go in Gannan and when: Gahai Lake, Zhagana, Flower Lake, Labrang Monastery and the Sangke grasslands, with route lengths, food, altitude and etiquette notes.
A Festival Year in Gannan: Grassland Camps and Horse Races
A seasonal guide to Gannan's Tibetan festivals: summer grassland camps and arrow offerings, a winter prayer season, and horse racing on the Sangke grasslands.
Emei Shan in Two Days: Temples, Summit and Cloud Light
A practical two-day route up Emei Shan and back down through its temple valleys, with notes on lodging, weather and transport.
A Short Temple Stay at Baoguo, Mount Emei
A practical guide to staying a night or two at Baoguo Temple: vegetarian meals in the refectory, evening chanting, early meditation, an introduction to Emei martial arts, and the mountain routes that follow.
Datong in Two Days: Temples, Grottoes and the Old City by Car
A two-day drive from Datong: Liao-Jin temples inside the Ming wall, the Yungang caves, Yingxian's wooden pagoda and the Hanging Monastery, with notes on timing, tickets and reconstruction.
Bronze, Bells and the Book of Songs at Datong Museum
A guide to Datong Museum's exhibition of bronze vessels named in the Book of Songs, with notes on the Buddhist and Daoist sculpture galleries in the same building.
Putuo Zongcheng Temple: Chengde's Little Potala
A guide to Putuo Zongcheng Temple in Chengde: its Potala-inspired layout, the stele pavilion, the Five Pagoda Gate, the Red Terrace and the gilded roof of Wanfa Guiyi Hall.
Winter at Wutai Shan: Roads, Temples and Cold-Weather Basics
A practical guide to visiting Wutai Shan in winter: the southern approach, driving on ice, a downhill temple route, East Peak access, seasonal etiquette and the scams to sidestep.
Three Days on Wutai Shan: Temples in Taihuai and the Five Peaks
A three-day route through Taihuai's main monasteries and the five terrace peaks of Wutai Shan, with notes on road access, walking and the official peak shuttle.
Two Days on Putuoshan: A Practical Itinerary for the Island of Monasteries
A two-day route through Putuoshan's monasteries, beaches, and hill paths, with notes on ferries, shuttle buses, and temple etiquette.
Where China's Oldest Buildings Survive: An Art Circuit Through Four Provinces
Tang timber halls, Yuan Taoist murals, Zhou bronzes, Buddhist cave temples and Song imperial stone, arranged as a practical route through Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan and Gansu.