Jie Tai Temple is situated in the western suburb of Beijing and to the southeast of Tan Zhe Temple. It was constructed in the fifth year of Emperor Wu De's reign (AD 622) of the Tang Dynasty and its name was changed into Wan Shou longevity Temple in the thirteenth year of Emperor Zheng Tong's reign (AD 1448) of the Ming Dynasty. It was reconstructed in the periods of Emperor Kang Xi and Emperor Qian Long of the Qing Dynasty, but the name remained the same.
Because of the largest altar of the Chinese monasteries built in the temple, it is called Jie Tai Temple (Temple of bestowing the monk or nun status). There are three such kinds of largest temples in China. These are Beijing Jie Tai Temple, Hangzhou Zhaoqing Temple and Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple.
Jie Tai Temple is also famous for its pine trees. These are Flexible Pine Tree, Complacent Pine Tree, Sleeping Dragon Pine Tree, Nine Dragon Pine Tree and Embracing Pagoda Pine Tree, called in all Jie Tai Five Pine Trees.
Inside the Temple there exhibit precious historical relics like huge copper incense burner, copper happiness tripod and copper bell etc. made in the Ming Dynasty.
