Baoguang Temple Vegetarian - Chengdu

To get to Baoguang Temple, we took the subway to the North Railway Station and then caught bus 35 to the North Bus Station near Chezhan. From there, we transferred to three more local buses, including bus 605 to Xindu, costing 3 RMB (50 cents) and taking about 45 minutes. After a short bus ride and 15-minute walk, we arrived at the temple where we paid the 5 RMB (82 cents) entrance fee and followed directions to the dining hall. The menu was in characters, but with the help of staff, we ordered a tofu dish along with various vegetable dishes. The food arrived promptly and we enjoyed a delicious broccoli dish, braised tofu with paprika, and a tasty celery and paprika stir-fry with roasted cashews. My non-vegetarian friend enjoyed all the dishes and admitted that we couldn't have chosen better if we had known what to order. The bill came to 40.10 RMB ($8.20) without drinks or desserts. Baoguang Temple closes at 1:15 pm, so it is recommended to arrive by midday to allow time to explore the temple grounds before or after lunch. After our visit, we caught bus 651 back to Chengdu, north of the North Railway Station. Overall, the experience at Baoguang Temple was well worth the visit and we highly recommend it to anyone with a few hours to spare in Chengdu.

Baoguang Temple, located on Baoguang Street in Chengdu's Xindu District, is a Zen Buddhist Monastery with a rich history and numerous cultural treasures. The temple covers an area of 100,000 square meters and dates back to the Eastern Han Dynasty. With one pagoda, six halls, and sixteen courtyards, it is the only temple that still follows the traditional layout with the pagoda at the center. To get there, we took the Metro to the North Train Station, then bus 35 to the North bus station (Beimen Chezhan). From there, we took bus 605 to Xindu and a short walk to reach the temple. After paying the 5 RMB entrance fee, we ordered food at the dining hall, guided by the helpful staff. We enjoyed a delicious meal of Broccoli, Braised Tofu with peppers, and Celery with Roasted Cashews. The total bill was 50 RMB without drinks or dessert. It's recommended to visit around noon, with time to explore the grounds before or after lunch. To return to Chengdu, we took bus 651 from the parkway in front of the temple. Overall, Baoguang Temple is a worthwhile outing for those with a few hours to spare.