[Photo: english.cri.cn]   [Photo: english.cri.cn]

A memorial archway inscribed with the words "The First Chinese Ancient Temple" stands in front of the White Horse Temple.

A white horse sculpture stands at the gate of the White Horse Temple. The White Horse temple is located 12 kilometers away east of Luoyang in central China's Henan province.

In front of the temple stands an archway inscribed with “The First Chinese Ancient Temple”.

The temple was originally built during the Eastern Han dynasty (25-220AD), when Buddhism was just introduced to China. The temple was constructed to reflect Indian architecture.

The Indian dignitaries translated Buddhist sutras into Chinese and delivered sermons to the public in the temple. It was named the White Horse Temple to commemorate the white horses that carried the sutras from India to China.

The temple consists of four halls, a platform and a pavilion. It includes the Four Major Protectors Hall, the Great Buddha Hall, the Daxiong Great Hall, the Jieyin Hall, the Qingliang Platform and the Pilu Pavilion. The Daxiong Great Hall is the most beautiful building of them all. In the hall, there are various Buddha sculptures that date back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

Come to the White Horse Temple, and set foot on a journey to the religious ancient China! .