Lingyin Temple — "Temple of the Soul's Retreat" — was founded in 328 AD by the Indian monk Huili, who was so struck by the beauty of the surrounding peaks that he believed they must be the dwelling place of immortals. Today it remains one of China's largest and most important Buddhist temples, set in a forested valley just west of West Lake.
The temple complex includes the Hall of the Heavenly Kings, the Grand Hall of the Great Sage (with a 24.8-meter seated Buddha carved from camphor wood), the Hall of the Medicine Buddha, and the Huayan Hall. The air is thick with incense, the sound of chanting drifts from the halls, and ancient camphor trees shade the courtyards. Even if you've visited many temples, Lingyin has a presence that's hard to describe.
Don't miss the Feilai Feng ("Peak That Flew Here") grottoes beside the temple. Over 300 Buddhist stone carvings are cut directly into the limestone cliffs, dating from the Five Dynasties period (10th century) through the Yuan Dynasty (14th century). The most famous is the Laughing Buddha, a cheerful, rotund figure who has been smiling at visitors for over a thousand years.