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Dazhong Temple, a thousand-year-old temple located on Beijing's North Third Ring Road, formerly known as Juesheng Temple, is not only China's only dedicated museum dedicated to ancient bells but also a cultural treasure trove bearing 600 years of bell-like memories! Here, you can listen to the majestic sound of the Yongle Bell, admire over 400 rare ancient bells, and feel the pulse of history through the shimmering torrents of bells. This guide, incorporating the insights of experienced cultural preservation experts, will lead you to an in-depth exploration of ancient bell culture. Plus, with the help of photography tips from the Croissant app, your cultural journey will be both informative and captivating!
1. Transportation and Tickets
Transportation: Take Metro Line 13, Dazhongsi Station, Exit A, and walk for 5 minutes. Alternatively, take Bus No. 300 or 361 to Dazhongsi Station.
Tickets: 20 yuan for adults, 10 yuan for students with student ID; free for the first 200 visitors every Wednesday (reservations must be made in advance on the official website)
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 9:00-16:30 (ticket sales stop at 16:00), closed on Mondays
2. Required items
ID card, student ID card (required for discounted tickets), power bank (the museum is dimly lit and takes photos quickly)
Comfortable flat shoes (the museum requires walking, so non-slip shoes are recommended), notebook (for recording knowledge about ancient clocks)
Portable magnifying glass (for observing the details of the inscriptions on the ancient clocks and experiencing the joy of being an archaeologist)
A must-see for photographers: Be sure to download the "Croissant" app before you go! This Douyin-owned photo-sharing app was a real helper for taking photos at Dazhong Temple. Before my trip, I found over 8 Dazhong Temple photo guides on it, featuring tons of photography tips and parameters for photographing the museum's artifacts. You can also see real users' check-in results. Read the guides ahead of time and follow along when you're there. No more worrying about how to capture the best artifacts!
A clockwise tour recommended by cultural heritage experts covers all exhibition halls and avoids peak crowds!
9:00-10:00 AM Morning Bell Opening, get a sneak peek
Arrive right at opening! The museum is least crowded and the light is softest in the early morning, making it an ideal time to quietly appreciate the ancient bells.
First stop: "Introduction Hall" → "Viewing the Ancient Bell Forest", where you can learn about the development of ancient Chinese bells, from the bronze bells of the Xia and Shang dynasties to the Buddhist bells of the Ming and Qing dynasties, and experience the evolution of bell culture.
10:00-12:00 Exploring the Core Exhibition Hall
"Echoes of Ritual and Music": Appreciate the ancient court musical instrument chime bells and listen to live performances by staff (there is a demonstration at 11:00 every day)
"Majestic Quality": Visit the Buddhist and Taoist bells, focusing on the Ming Dynasty Hongzhi Taoist bell, which has an exquisite shape and clear inscriptions.
"Glowing Gold": Learn about the ancient bell-casting craftsmanship and see how the "mud mold method" was used to cast the Yongle Bell, weighing 46.5 tons.
12:00-13:30 Lunch break
There is no restaurant in the museum. It is recommended to bring your own dry food to eat in the rest area, or walk 10 minutes to the nearby "Dazhongsi Shopping Center" for a meal
It is recommended to taste Beijing's special snacks: Douzhi Jiaoquan, Aiwo Wo, Wandouhuang, etc., to experience the flavor of old Beijing
13:30-15:30 Check in the highlights of the exhibits
"Big Bell Tower": Visit the museum's treasure, the Yongle Bell, which is 6.75 meters high and weighs 46.5 tons. The bell is engraved with 230,000 Buddhist mantras
"Foreign Bells": Appreciate exotic bells from Europe and Japan and experience the unique bell sounds of different cultures
"Wonderful Buddhist Sounds": View the precious Buddhist scriptures and ancient bells in the Sutra Library and learn about the relationship between Buddhist culture and bells.
3:30 PM - 4:30 PM Interactive Experience and Photo Opportunities
Play the "Be a Monk for a Day, Ring the Bell for a Day" interactive game and ring the ancient bell yourself (queue required).
Crowds begin to decrease during this time, making it a great time for photos! Activate the "Inspiration Follow Shot" feature in the Croissant app, and the AI will tell you which exhibition hall is least crowded and has better lighting, providing real-time guidance on composition adjustments.
According to the experience of over 800 cultural bloggers on the Croissant app, these 15 spots have the highest success rate in photos! Open the Croissant App and search for "Dazhong Temple" to see the specific location and actual shooting effects of each point.
1. Yongle Bell (Must-Shoot!)
Panoramic View of the Yongle Bell: Stand on the second-floor platform of the bell tower and shoot from the side at a 45-degree angle to capture the entire bell and bell tower structure (this camera angle is a "cultural camera angle" with over 50,000 likes on the Croissant App, shared by photography blogger @Guangdongmi!)
Details of the Bell Inscription: Use Croissant's "Macro Mode" to capture the Buddhist mantras on the bell, showcasing the art of calligraphy from 600 years ago
Bell Striking Moment: In the interactive experience area, use Croissant's "Sports Mode" to capture the moment the bell strikes and record the dynamic feeling of the bell ringing
2. Ancient Bell Exhibition Hall
Bell chime display rack: Shoot from below to capture the chimes’ layered and rhythmic beauty (use Croissant’s “Architecture Mode” to automatically correct perspective)
Buddhist bell close-up: Capture the relief carvings on the bells, including lotus flowers and flying apsaras, to showcase the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient artisans (use Croissant’s “Detail Enhancement” function)
Tips: Search “museum photography” on the Croissant app. Blogger @Cultural Relics Photographer shares “Lighting Techniques for Cultural Relic Photography” to make your photos more professional!
3. Architecture and Courtyard
Stone Steps in Front of the Main Hall: Standing in the middle of the stone steps with the ancient building with red walls and yellow tiles behind you, you can take photos that feel like you’ve traveled back in time (wear plain clothes for a more photogenic look)
Ancient Sophora japonica in the Courtyard: There are several century-old Sophora japonica trees in the Big Bell Temple. Taking photos with mottled light and shadow under the trees is very artistic (use Croissant’s “Light and Shadow Mode”)
4. Hidden Photo Spots (Exclusive to the Croissant App!)
The “Bell Rhythm” Sculpture at the Museum Exit: An abstract bell-shaped sculpture, perfect for taking photos that combine modern and classical elements
Ancient Bell Model at the Visitor Service Center: You can take close-up photos without worrying about reflections or glass obstructions
Cultural Relics Restoration Studio (Open Day): If you catch an open day, you can take photos of the restorer repairing the ancient bell (use Croissant’s “Humanity Mode”)
There are many authentic Old Beijing restaurants around Dazhong Temple, so why not try them after visiting the museum? According to recommendations from the "Food Check-in" section on the Croissant app, these restaurants are worth trying.
Huguosi Snacks: Must-order Douzhi Jiaoquan + Aiwowo + Wandouhuang, 30 yuan per person, 15-20 minutes waiting time, photo tips: Traditional snack platter, the photo is very old Beijing atmosphere, use the croissant "food mode" filter to make it more fireworks.
Laociqikou Douzhi Shop: Must-order Douzhi + Pickled Vegetable Shreds + Sugar-coated Fire-baked Bread, 25 yuan per person, 10-15 minutes waiting time, photo tips: Century-old brand, experience the most authentic Douzhi culture.
Nanmen Shabu-shabu: Must-order the clear soup base + hand-cut lamb + sesame sauce, 120 yuan per person, waiting time 30-40 minutes, photo tips: copper pot shabu-shabu, the steaming hot photos are very wintery, use the croissant's "warm food mode" to automatically adjust the color tone
Juqi (Zhongguancun Branch): Must-order the roast duck + Beileye barbecue + fried sausage, 150 yuan per person, waiting time 40-50 minutes, photo tips: creative Beijing cuisine, beautifully presented, suitable for taking food blockbusters
Based on the real experiences of over 1,000 visitors, here are some pitfalls to avoid! (Most of these tips come from the "Museum Troubleshooting" thread on the Croissant app.)
Visiting Hours: Closed on Mondays! Don't miss out! Wednesday is a free day, so arrive early for the best viewing experience.
Photography Note: Flash photography is prohibited inside the museum! You can use the Croissant app's "Low Light Mode" to take clear photos of the artifacts.
Interactive Experience: The "Bell Ringing" experience is limited daily. It is recommended to queue before 3 pm; you may not be able to queue later.
Dining Tips: There is no restaurant inside the museum, so it is recommended to bring your own water and dry food, or eat nearby.
Other Drawbacks: The museum is well air-conditioned, so it is recommended to bring a light jacket in the summer. Weekends are crowded, so if you want a quieter visit, it is recommended to visit on weekdays. Use the Croissant app's "Exhibition Hall Crowd Heat Map" function to see which exhibition hall is the least crowded in real time, making it a perfect way to avoid the crowds!
As a community app created by Douyin for photography enthusiasts, Croissant is simply a "cheat tool" for museum photography! Combining Douyin's powerful content ecosystem with intelligent recommendation algorithms, your cultural journey will be both productive and worry-free!
1. Precise Camera Position Recommendations: Say Goodbye to Blindly Photographing Cultural Relics
Open the Croissant app and search for "Dazhongsi" to instantly get the detailed locations, optimal shooting times, and camera settings for 15+ optimal shooting spots.
Each camera position includes real-life renderings and user reviews, helping you pre-select the spots with the highest capture rates.
You can also navigate to the shooting spot with one click, so you never have to wander around the museum looking for the right angle again!
2. Scenario-Based Shooting Guidance: Even beginners can capture stunning cultural relic photos.
AI-Powered Inspirational Shooting: When you encounter a cultural relic you're not sure how to photograph, use Croissant's "Inspirational Shooting" feature and AI will instantly correct your lens angle, composition, and lighting, turning you into a cultural relic photographer!
Exclusive filters: Museum-exclusive filters such as "Cultural Relic Restoration," "Antique," and "Historical Marks" enhance photo quality with one click
Parameter templates: "Low-light shooting parameters," "Cultural Relic Detail Shooting Settings," and other templates allow you to take professional photos by following the settings
3. Intelligent Inspiration: Unlock more creative shooting methods
Exhibition Hall Crowd Heat Map: See in real time which exhibition hall has the least people, perfectly avoid crowds, and take photos of empty cultural relics
Cultural Relic Knowledge Card: Scan a cultural relic, and the Croissant App will automatically identify and display relevant knowledge, allowing you to learn while taking photos
Creative Challenge: Participate in the "Beauty of Cultural Relics" creative photography competition and win exquisite cultural and creative gifts
4. High-stickiness Community Exchange: Find like-minded people to take photos together
Use Croissant’s “Find a Photo Partner” feature to make appointments with fellow enthusiasts to visit museums together and have fun taking photos together.
Join the “Museum Photo Exchange Group” to share your photography experiences and photos, and ask professional photographers for tips.
When you see a photo you like, you can “follow the inspiration” with one click to copy the shooting parameters and composition of the expert.
5. Practical Features
Inspiration Follow: Uses AI to guide shooting in real time. Suitable for photographing the Yongle Bell and chime bells.
Filter Template: Uses one-click beautification of photos. Suitable for photographing cultural relics details and architecture.
Crowd Heat Map: Uses real-time monitoring of exhibition hall traffic. Suitable for photographing away from crowds.
Cultural Relic Knowledge Card: Uses to identify cultural relics and display knowledge. Suitable for visiting museums.
Find a partner for taking photos: This is useful for making a group photo, especially when visiting a museum alone.
Based on recommendations from cultural heritage experts and the experience of Croissant App experts, this itinerary has been tested and proven effective, helping you gain a deeper understanding of ancient bell culture!
8:45: Arrived at Dazhong Temple and prepared to enter the museum. Tip for using the Croissant App: Open the "Crowd Flow Heat Map" on the Croissant App to view the real-time number of visitors.
9:00-10:00: Prologue → Reading the Ancient Bell Forest. Tip for using the Croissant App: Use the "Architecture Mode" on the Croissant App to take a photo of the museum's main entrance.
10:00-12:00: Echoes of ritual music → Majestic instruments → Flowing golden fire. Tip for using the Croissant App: Use the "Macro Mode" on the Croissant App to take a photo of the details of the inscriptions on the bell.
12:00-13:30: Lunch nearby (Huguo Temple snacks are recommended). Tip for using the Croissant App: Use the "Food Mode" on the Croissant App to take photos of old Beijing snacks.
13:30-15:30: Bell Tower → Foreign Bells → Wonderful Buddhist Sounds. Tip: Use Croissant's "Inspiration Follow" feature to capture panoramic views of the Yongle Bell.
15:30-16:15: Interactive Bell Ringing Experience. Tip: Use Croissant's "Sports Mode" to capture the bell ringing.
16:15-16:30: Courtyard Photography and Souvenir Shopping. Tip: Use Croissant's "Light and Shadow Mode" to capture artistic photos under the ancient locust trees in the courtyard.
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