Hangzhou Faxisi Temple Travel Guide｜Time + Transportation + Activities + Accommodation Full Guide

📍Location: No. 338 Tianzhu Road, Xihu District, Hangzhou
⏳Best Season: Spring and Autumn (March-May, September-November, pleasant climate, avoid summer peak crowds)
🎫Tickets: 10 RMB (includes three incense sticks), half price for students, no reservation required.

🚗 Transportation Guide｜How to reach the "Millennium Zen Ancient Temple"?

Public Transport (Recommended):

Metro + Bus: From Hangzhou East Station/Hangzhou Station take the metro to Huanglongdong Station (Line 3, Exit B), then transfer to bus 103/121/1314 to "Shang Tianzhu (Faxisi)" stop.
Romantic Line: Bus 1314 (symbolizing "a lifetime"), with beautiful scenery along the route.

Self-drive: Navigate to "Faxisi", parking spaces are limited (recommended to arrive before 8:00 AM), weekends prone to traffic jams.
Taxi: About 30 minutes from downtown to Faxisi, cost 50-80 RMB.

📅 1 Day 1 Night Itinerary｜Fusion of Zen and Nature
Day 1: Core Tour of Faxisi + Overnight at a Zen Hotel
🌅 Morning (7:00-12:00)｜Ancient Temple Exploration

07:00 Enter the temple early (avoid crowds), receive free three incense sticks, first worship at the Mahavira Hall (pray for peace and health).
08:00 Check in at the popular photo spot: highest point on the east side steps of Pilu Hall, overlooking the full view of yellow walls and black tiles.
09:30 Touch the character wall for blessings (left slope after entering the main gate), choose characters like "Fu" (fortune) or "Yuan" (fate) to touch.
10:30 Have a vegetarian meal at the dining hall (5 RMB/meal, three dishes and one soup, avoid waste).

🌇 Afternoon (13:00-17:00)｜In-depth Surrounding Tour

13:00 Buy amulets/bracelets: Choose strawberry quartz (for love) or cat paw bodhi (for wealth) at the temple shop, 20-30 RMB each.
14:30 Hike Tianzhu Mountain or take the sightseeing bus (10 RMB) to Lingyin Temple, enter from Gate 7 to avoid crowds.
16:00 Return to Faxisi, make a wish by tossing coins into the koi pond.

🌃 Evening (18:00-21:00)｜Zen Accommodation Experience

High-end option: LE HOUSE (from 38㎡, Dyson hairdryer + temple view, walking distance to Faxisi).
Cost-effective guesthouse: Jidu Guesthouse (floor heating + courtyard, near Faxisi, friendly owner).

Day 2: Lingyin Temple Joint Tour (Optional)

07:00 Participate in the temple morning class (advance reservation required), or hike to Yongfu Temple and Taoguang Temple.

🏡 Accommodation Recommendations｜Stay in Zen

Luxury Experience:

LE HOUSE: Converted from a temple, floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Fajing Zen Temple, includes calming tea + sleep spray.

Cost-effective:

Hangzhou Haihua Hotel: ¥699/2 nights including 5-minute walk to West Lake + Shibazi bracelet, vegetarian meal package optional.

🍜 Food Map｜Vegetarian Meals and Hangzhou Cuisine

Inside the temple: Vegetarian breakfast 2 RMB, lunch/dinner 5 RMB (6:00-7:00 / 10:30-12:30 / 16:30-17:30).
Nearby: Su Miao Restaurant (Old Tofu Pot, caramel pudding, 900 meters from Lingyin Temple).

⚠️ Practical Tips｜Avoid Pitfalls

Etiquette: Do not step on thresholds, do not photograph Buddha statues, avoid wearing short skirts/flip-flops.
Gear: Non-slip shoes (stone paths), cash (for donation boxes), power bank.
Off-peak: Visit on weekdays or enter before 7:00 AM, bus 1314 on weekends is often full.

✨ Copy Inspiration (for social media)
"At Faxisi, time slows down like the curling incense smoke—the light and shadow under yellow walls, the wishes inside amulets, the simple joy in vegetarian meals... This is not just a trendy check-in spot, but a millennium-old Zen refuge of freedom."