Temples witness a transformation

Fayuan Temple, built in the year 645, is known for its lilac blossoms. [Photo for China Daily]

The repair team is also thinking about how to further open the venue to the public, as the authorities and professionals have gone to great lengths to vacate the temple and renovate it.

Lin Fan, 36, an engineer in Beijing, said he is interested in history and keen to visit temples when the public is granted admission.

"Walking through these ancient structures is a good way of experiencing and imagining residents' lives in ancient times, as temples symbolized people's beliefs," Lin said.

Liu Jingrong, a student majoring in art at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, said she loves to gain inspiration from the beauty of temples. "Chinese architecture is valuable for those like me as we learn and work," she said.

Her favorite temple in Beijing is Fayuan Temple, a 1,400-year-old Buddhist structure in the south of the city. The venue has rich historical and cultural significance, and the 16-hectare surrounding neighborhood is one of the hutong communities in the city that remains intact.

Many celebrities once lived or took part in events in this area, adding to its cultural significance. For example, renowned Indian poet Rabindranath Tagore and his Chinese counterpart Xu Zhimo visited Fayuan Temple together in 1924.

The venue is now home to the Buddhist Academy of China and the China Buddhist Literature and Heritage Museum.

Repair work at Fayuan Temple, which started in 2006 with investment of several hundred million yuan, was completed in 2019, before the site opened to the public, with admission tickets costing 5 yuan (75 cents).

Liu said, "It's well worth buying a ticket, as visitors can experience religion, culture, tradition and enjoy nature at the same time."