Bodhi Temple in Mangshi City, Dehong

🛕 Bodhi Temple: A Tranquil Gem in Mangshi

Nestled in the heart of Mangshi City, Bodhi Temple (菩提寺) offers a peaceful escape amid palm-lined streets and local markets. Just a 5-minute walk from Mangshi Square and 7 km from the airport, this ancient Theravāda Buddhist temple invites you to step into centuries of spiritual history with a single breath of sandalwood incense.

📍 Location & Accessibility

Geographic Coordinates

Middle section of Bodhi Street, central Mangshi, Dehong Prefecture, Yunnan Province.
🧭 Simply search for “Bodhi Temple” on your map app for direct navigation.

Nearby Landmarks

• 🏛️ 5 min walk from Mangshi Central Square

• ✈️ 15 min taxi ride (7 km) from Mangshi Airport

🕰️ History: A Legacy Since 1677

Founded in the 16th year of Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1677), the temple is known in the Dai language as “Zang Xiang”, meaning Temple of Gemstones. It was reconstructed during the Guangxu era, blending Dai double-eaved roofs with Han-style dougong brackets, forming a rare architectural fusion. Today, it remains one of the oldest living Theravāda Buddhist temples in Mangshi’s urban center.

🏯 Architectural Highlights

Main Hall

• Triple-eaved Xieshan roof with golden tiles and white walls

• Decorative ridgeline with flames and peacocks

• 4-meter-tall gold-leaf Buddha Shakyamuni statue enshrined inside

Murals

• Vivid wall paintings at the entrance portray Dai Buddhist tales from palm-leaf scriptures alongside Chinese “24 Filial Exemplars” — a unique cultural blend rarely seen in China.

Ancient Bodhi Tree

• Over 200 years old, with aerial roots cascading to the ground

• In the evening, egrets return to roost, casting a serene, Zen-like atmosphere

Palm-leaf Manuscripts

• The Sutra Pavilion houses 300+ Dai-language palm-leaf manuscripts

• Guided visits available upon request

🧘‍♀️ Things to Do: Slow Travel in a Sacred Space

⏱️ 15-Minute Temple Walk

Follow this path: Spirit Wall → Main Hall → Sutra Pavilion → Stupa Loop
Feel the cool calmness in the middle of Mangshi’s hustle and bustle.

✍️ Calligraphy Experience

Every Saturday from 09:30 to 11:00, try your hand at copying scriptures onto traditional Dai paper.
You may request a monk’s blessing for your completed work.

📷 Top Photography Spots

• 09:00–10:00 AM: Side-lit golden roof against a clear blue sky

• At dusk: Telephoto shot compresses the palm-lined entrance, capturing a tropical cinematic vibe

ℹ️ Visitor Info

🕘 Opening Hours

Free entry | Open daily 08:00–18:00
🧦 Shoes off when entering the main hall

🚗 Transportation

• By air: Taxi from Mangshi Airport takes ~15 min, ~25 RMB

• By rail + bus:

  1. Take high-speed train from Kunming South → Baoshan Station

  2. From Baoshan Bus Terminal, take a 2-hour coach to Mangshi

  3. Short 5-min taxi ride to the temple

🧭 Nearby Attractions: One Route, Three Icons

Create a themed walking tour along Bodhi Street:

Bodhi Temple → 3-min walk to Tree-Wrapped Pagoda → 8-min walk to Menghuan Golden Pagoda → Mangshi Night Market

A seamless journey through golden pagodas, ancient temples, and mystical architecture.

🌿 In a Nutshell

On Mangshi’s Bodhi Street, beneath swaying palms, step through crimson temple gates and leave behind the city’s noise. Here, 200 years of Buddhist chants and local life are separated by nothing more than the scent of incense.