Live Your Best Lives
Dazhong Temple, formerly known as Juesheng Temple, was built in the 11th year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1733 AD). It covers a total area of 30,000 square meters. The temple has a rigorous structure and a majestic appearance. It was once an important place for the royal family to pray for rain and hold Buddhist activities. Because the temple houses a huge Buddhist bell cast during the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, it is also commonly known as the "Dazhong Temple". In 1957, the Beijing Municipal Government announced that Juesheng Temple was an important cultural relic protection unit at the municipal level. In December 1996, Juesheng Temple was announced by the State Council as a national key cultural relic protection unit. In February 1980, the Dazhong Temple Cultural Relics Conservation Center was established. On October 5, 1985, the Dazhong Temple Ancient Bell Museum was established and opened to the public. Today, Dazhong Temple has become a multifunctional museum that uses ancient architecture to carry out tourism collection, exhibition research, and development and utilization of ancient bell cultural relic resources.
Attraction Location: "No. 8, North Zhongguancun Street, Haidian District, Beijing, China (北京市海淀区中关村北大街8号)"
History: Dazhongsi Temple was originally established in the Liao Dynasty (916–1125). The Ancient Bell Museum was later developed to preserve the temple’s rich collection of historic bells, some dating back over 1,000 years. It reflects Beijing’s traditional bell casting and ritual culture.
Architecture: The museum is built in traditional Chinese style with wooden structures, upturned eaves, and courtyard layout. Inside, large ancient bells are displayed in halls, some suspended in original frames, allowing visitors to appreciate their size, shape, and inscriptions. The complex includes a main hall, side halls, and a small garden.
Cultural Value: The museum preserves an invaluable collection of Buddhist and ceremonial bells, showcasing ancient metallurgy, calligraphy, and ritual significance. The bells were historically used for religious ceremonies, timekeeping, and city alerts. Visiting provides insight into both spiritual and material culture of historical China.
Other Information: The museum often hosts educational demonstrations of bell ringing and bell casting history. It is a quieter site, popular with history enthusiasts and photographers.
Opening Hours: "8:30 AM – 5:00 PM daily"
Contact Number: "+86 10 6255 4487"
Ticket Price: "Entrance: 20 CNY"
"Guided tour (optional): 30 CNY"
Best Photo Spots: Main Bell Hall (大钟殿) – for large bells
Temple courtyard with bells in the open air
Bell inscriptions and detailed carvings inside halls
Time Reference: 1–1.5 hours to see the entire museum
Other Information: Morning visits are quieter and provide better lighting. Pay attention to museum rules when photographing. Avoid touching ancient bells.
Luxury: Hilton Beijing Wangfujing (北京王府井希尔顿酒店) – 25 min drive
Park Hyatt Beijing (北京柏悦酒店) – 25 min drive
Mid-range: Novotel Beijing Peace (北京诺富特和平酒店) – 20 min drive
Holiday Inn Express Beijing Dongzhimen (北京东直门智选假日酒店) – 20 min drive
Budget & Boutique: 365 Inn Beijing (北京365客栈) – 15 min drive
Beijing Leo Hostel (北京里奥旅舍) – 15 min drive
Must-Try Dishes: Traditional Beijing noodles (炸酱面), Vegetarian snacks (素食小吃), Local dumplings (饺子)
Famous Spots: Baiyun Vegetarian Restaurant (白云素食) – 5 min walk
Qingfeng Steamed Dumpling Shop (庆丰包子铺) – 10 min drive
Local noodle shops near Zhongguancun Street (中关村街道)
Half-Day Cultural Route: Dazhongsi Ancient Bell Museum → Dajue Temple → Fragrant Hills Park
Transportation: Walk or taxi 5–15 min between sites
Full-Day Haidian Historical Route: D1: Dazhongsi Ancient Bell Museum → Peking University (北京大学) → Tsinghua University (清华大学) → Zhongguancun Tech Area (中关村)
Transportation: Walk within campuses, taxi/subway 10–15 min between sites
Two-Day Culture & Nature Route: D1: Dazhongsi Ancient Bell Museum → Dajue Temple → Beijing Botanical Garden
D2: Fragrant Hills Park → Summer Palace (颐和园)
Transportation: Taxi or subway 10–20 min between locations
A museum based on a temple. Many ancient bells are worth seeing, but the scenery is nothing special.
Not bad, many ancient bells can be touched up close.
The first 200 people every Wednesday are free. The temple is very big and worth visiting.
Although you can’t worship Buddha, you can watch the clock. Although it’s hard to find, it still has its own characteristics.
The second floor of the Foreign Bells is an exhibition of photography and paintings of Russian bell and drum towers.
There are poems about bells on one side of the corridor of Jiuting Bell Courtyard.
There were supposed to be free lectures at 10 o'clock, but it seemed like they were in the volunteer training stage at the time. I met several pairs of experienced volunteers training new volunteers. I could listen a little bit, but I was often interrupted and had to correct the new volunteers' pronunciation, gestures, explanations, etc.
Formerly known as Juesheng Temple, now the "Ancient Bell Museum", it is famous for the world's first bell, the Yongle Bell of the Ming Dynasty. In addition, there are many ancient bells and related replicas from the Neolithic Age to the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasties. In addition, I encountered many cats in the yard, big and small. There are really many~
I had done enough research before the visit, but when I saw the Yongle Bell standing in front of me, the heavy and oppressive feeling that came over me was incomparable to the pale figures in the information. The huge ancient bell was quietly hanging between the colorful measuring columns, but it seemed that I could hear the loud bell ringing in my ears through the dust of history. Following the bell sound, I could vaguely see the glory of the Ming Dynasty and the glory of the Kangxi and Qianlong eras.
The 30 yuan ticket price is quite expensive for a museum that charges admission. But most of the exhibits are genuine. Currently, students from nearby universities serve as volunteer guides, and both boys and girls are quite sincere. Next door is the Dazhong Temple Clinic and Dharma Distribution Center, which are full of state-owned characteristics, which is quite interesting.
The Dazhong Temple was originally named Juesheng Temple. It was built during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng of the Qing Dynasty. Later, it was renamed Dazhong Temple because there was a Yongle bell in the temple. The Dazhong Temple Museum is no longer a temple, and there are no Buddha statues in it. Instead, it is an exhibition hall with bells as the theme. The adult ticket is 20 yuan, and tourists with the National Tourism Card can visit it for free without limit. Inside, you can see bells of various styles and sizes from various dynasties. Of course, some are replicas. The most famous one is the Yongle Bell of the Ming Dynasty. It is 6.75 meters high and weighs 46.5 tons. The sound of the impact can be heard for dozens of miles. The surface of the bell is engraved with hundreds of thousands of words of scriptures. It is really a national treasure. In addition to the Chinese bell exhibition, there is also an exhibition room dedicated to the exhibition of foreign bells, so that the Chinese and foreign bell cultures can be compared during the tour. Since the Big Bell Temple Museum is not a popular tourist attraction, it is generally very quiet inside. If you are lucky, you can even see live performances by the staff. As for the evaluation of the attraction, I think it depends on the individual. If you have no feeling for bell culture, there is really nothing to see, as there are only bells inside and nothing else. If you are interested, it will definitely be a feast for your eyes.
The Dazhong Temple Ancient Bell Museum was originally named Juesheng Temple. It was first built during the reign of Emperor Yongzheng and expanded during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. It has five courtyards.
The Yongle Bell in the temple is worth visiting. The Yongle Bell was built by Emperor Zhu Di of the Ming Dynasty to consolidate his imperial power. It was moved four times and finally settled in the Bell Temple. After learning how to make the bell, I admired the manufacturing technology of my ancestors even more.
There is also a Qianlong Chao Zhong. The first picture shows the pattern of the Chao Zhong, which is quite exquisite.
The ticket price is 20 yuan, and it’s free on Wednesday. I went there on Wednesday, haha.
The Big Bell Temple, also known as the Juesheng Temple, was built during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. It is located next to the Third Ring Road and can be reached by many vehicles. It is now the Ancient Bell Museum. Tickets are 20 yuan. There are free explanations and audio guides. It is recommended to listen to it, which is completely different from the feeling of seeing it yourself.
There are many ancient bells on display. It is very interesting. The most famous one is the Yongle Bell. It is in the big bell tower at the back. It was the place for praying for rain in the Qing Dynasty. The bell is so big that it is said to weigh 42 tons. It is covered with inscriptions. You can only see it on the first floor and cannot go up.
There is also a famous bell in the Guanyin Hall, the Qianlong Bell. The dragon on it is very exquisite and you must not miss it.
There are too many other clocks. There should be some famous clocks, but it's a pity that the markings of which ones are original and which ones are replicas are not clear enough. It's a bit regrettable.
You can just think of it as an ancient bell museum that has the appearance of a temple but does not have the function of burning incense and praying to Buddha. It is not large in area and there are few people whenever you go.
The Beijing Dazhong Temple Ancient Bell Museum is located on the edge of Beijing's North Third Ring Road. It was originally named Juesheng Temple. The temple mainly displays the development history of bells and ancient bells in famous temples in Beijing. Of course, the most famous is the Yongle Bell of the Ming Dynasty in the big bell tower at the back. Most of the buildings in the temple are rebuilt, but the big bell tower is not. Look at the thick wooden beams and the 46.5-ton bell cast in the Ming Dynasty. You will be amazed at the skills of ancient craftsmen. There are not many people visiting the temple. Remember to go on Wednesdays, when tickets are free.
Dazhongsi Ancient Bell Museum is a professional museum in China. Located on the north side of Beijing North Third Ring Road West, the temple was built in the 11th year of Emperor Yongzheng's reign in the Qing Dynasty (1733) and was one of the places where the Qing emperor prayed for rain. In March 1980, the Dazhongsi Cultural Relics Conservation Center was established, and in October 1985, it was built as the Dazhongsi Ancient Bell Museum. When my child was young, I often took her to museums, and the Dazhongsi Ancient Bell Museum was one of them. I always regret that I can't take her to listen to the New Year's bell every New Year. Maybe one day in the future, she will bring her boyfriend, or her husband and their children... There are few tourists here, and it is very quiet. The last ticket I collected a long time ago.
In addition to the bell buttons, the words and patterns on the bell body are also very important. For example, the patterns on this bell are very exquisite. It is worth seeing
I entered with a tourist annual card, and didn't use the ticket. The visit time is 40-60 minutes. This was originally a temple, but it was changed into an ancient bell museum. There are many ancient bells (Chinese and foreign). I asked the management inside, and they are all real bells. The Chinese bells are really beautiful, with inscriptions and patterns. There is a bell more than 6 meters high in the last hall, which is hung up by a wooden frame. It is very impressive. I heard that it was made in the Ming Dynasty and set up in the Qing Dynasty. It looks the same as it did in ancient times, and it has not been moved. The "hook" on the top of the largest bell (I don't know what the scientific name is) is full of words, and it is said that there are hundreds of thousands of words on it. It's quite shocking~ There is a guard in each hall, and I don't know what he does. The audio and video inside are all turned off. It should be that there are not many visitors. Maybe it will be turned on when there are more people.