Jade Buddha Temple to reopen, with reservations

Shanghai's Jade Buddha Temple will reopen to visitors from Friday. Online reservations, health codes, masks and temperature checks are required for guests.

Foreign visitors can register with their passports.

The temple, built in 1882 and renowned for its Jade Buddha statue, is one of the city’s most popular sites, attracting 1.2 million visitors per year, a third from abroad.

It has been closed since January 24, or Chinese New Year's Eve, due to the novel coronavirus outbreak.

As the COVID-19 pandemic wanes in China, the temple will reopen between 8am and 4pm from Friday. About 3,000 visitors will be admitted every day.

Five pavilions — the Heavenly Kings Hall, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva Hall, Grand Hall, Jade Buddha Statue Hall and Memorial Hall — will open to worshippers and tourists, while other buildings will remain closed.

Visitors are required to scan a QR code of the temple to register their name, identity card number and telephone number beforehand. Each visitor can make a reservation once per day.

All visitors must show their health QR code and reservation code before entering the site and must wear masks. Temperatures will be checked at the entrance and those with abnormal temperatures will be prohibited.

Foreigners with passports or seniors who don't use smartphones can register with their certificates at the entrance of the temple.

To prevent the gathering of people, sutra-writing events have been suspended. Visitors are asked to keep their distance and heed the guidance of temple staff and volunteers.

Due to the hot weather, visitors are also reminded to prepare an additional mask for replacement. Discarded masks must be thrown into designated bins around the temple.

Ti Gong