Lingyin Temple
Known locally as Lingyin Si (Temple of the Soul’s Retreat), this is one of China’s largest Buddhist temples. The entrance is magnificent, passing through shallow caves and grottos featuring over 400 Buddhist rock carvings, many dating from the 10th to 14th centuries. The incense-filled, working temple boasts four grand halls, each more lavish and colourful than the last. The stand-out is the 12m-high (39ft) Hall of the 500 Arhats, which features 500 human-sized sitting Buddhist saints, each holding his own symbol, arranged in the formation of a giant swastika. Located next to Lingyin Temple, is a cable car which wheels its way up North Peak and offers fabulous views across parts of West Lake and the surrounding tea plantations.
