White Horse Temple

Luoyang, Henan, China

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White Horse Temple, nestled just outside the ancient capital of Luoyang, holds the distinguished honor of being China’s first Buddhist temple. Established in 68 CE during the Eastern Han Dynasty, it stands not only as a religious sanctuary but also as a symbol of cultural exchange between China and the wider Buddhist world.

Legend says that two Indian monks arrived on white horses, bearing sacred scriptures and relics, prompting the emperor to build the temple in reverence—hence its evocative name. Passing through its stately red gates, time feels fluid. The gentle clang of bells, the waft of incense curling toward elaborately painted eaves, and the solemn gaze of statues preserved through centuries invite quiet awe.

Though rebuilt and restored over the millennia, the soul of the temple endures in its courtyards, cloisters, and sutra halls, where tradition breathes and echoes.