Shanghai's historic Jade Buddha Temple on the move

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The main hall of Shanghai’s renowned Jade Buddha Temple was successfully moved 90 centimeters on Sunday. The shift is part of a huge renovation project to move the hall over 30 meters northwards in order to create more space for visitors.

Jade Buddha Temple moves 90 centimeters. /Jade Buddha Temple Photo

Jade Buddha Temple on historic move /Xinhua Photo

The 135-year-old temple, also known as Yufo Temple, is located in downtown Shanghai and attracts more than two million visitors a year. Daily visitor numbers can reach as high as 100,000 during peak periods of the Spring Festival when Chinese people gather in temples to pray for good luck for the coming year.

According to Master Jue Xing, abbot of the Jade Buddha Temple, the wood-and-brick main hall poses huge fire and other safety concerns, especially when crowds gather in the temple which covers less than 8,000 square meters.

Visitors in Jade Buddha Temple / Jade Buddha Temple Photo

Over the next two weeks, the 18-meter-tall building –together with the three Buddha statues it houses – will be relocated 30.66 meters northward within the temple and elevated 1.05 meters.

After that, the temple will expand the main hall and double the size of the main square.

Buddha statues in Jade Buddha Temple / Jade Buddha Temple Photo

Shanghai has had several successful projects to move old buildings, including a school in 2009 and a concert hall in 2002.

1066km