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Famen Temple's modern 148m Buddhist relic pagoda in Fufeng County, Shaanxi — the iconic hand-shaped tower that enshrines the finger-bone relic of the Buddha

Famen Temple Guide: Xi'an Day Trip, Finger-Bone Relic, Tickets

Famen Temple (Famen Si) day trip from Xi'an: 110 km west in Fufeng County, the finger-bone relic of the Buddha, Tang underground palace museum. Tickets ¥120, transport options, and whether it's worth the day.

By Daniel Park, Itineraries & Cities Editor 7 min read

Famen Temple (法门寺, Fǎmén Sì) is a Buddhist temple 110 km west of Xi’an in Fufeng County, famous for the 1987 discovery of the finger-bone relic of the Buddha in the Tang-dynasty underground palace. The site is one of the most important Buddhist archaeological finds in China, and the temple museum is the highlight of a Xi’an day trip.

For most travelers, the Terracotta Army and Xi’an City Wall are higher priorities than Famen Temple. But if you have 3+ days in Xi’an and an interest in Buddhist history, Tang-dynasty art, or the Silk Road, Famen Temple is worth a full day. The Tang underground palace museum is striking.

History

Famen Temple was founded in the Eastern Han dynasty (around 68 AD) and grew into one of the most important Buddhist temples in Tang-dynasty China. Empress Wu Zetian donated treasures to the temple in the 7th-8th centuries; Tang emperors contributed Buddhist offerings; the temple housed a finger-bone relic of the Buddha (Sakyamuni) that was venerated by the imperial court.

In 874 AD, the Tang emperor ordered the underground palace sealed with the relic and over 2,000 gold, silver, jade, and porcelain offerings. The temple survived another 1,100 years but the underground palace was forgotten.

In 1987, archaeologists re-opened the underground palace for the first time in 1,113 years. The discovery made international news: a finger-bone relic of the Buddha, a 1.96m gold and silver pagoda, a gold Buddhist scepter, Tang-era silk embroidery, and a complete set of 13 gold offerings. The site museum now displays the discoveries in a darkened hall with dramatic lighting.

What to see

The Famen Temple complex has three main sections: the ancient temple, the Tang underground palace museum, and the modern relic pagoda.

The ancient temple is a Ming-Qing dynasty rebuild on Tang foundations. The main hall (Mahavira Hall) houses Buddhist statues. It is less impressive than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda but is a pleasant quick walk-through. Allow 30 minutes.

The Tang underground palace museum is the highlight. The 1987 discoveries are displayed in a darkened hall: a 1.96m gold and silver pagoda, a gold Buddhist scepter, Tang-era silk embroidery, gold offering vessels, and silver incense burners. The Buddha finger-bone relic is the centerpiece. Allow 60-90 minutes. The audio guide (¥20) is worth it for the historical context.

The modern relic pagoda is a 148m modern structure built in 2009 to enshrine the Buddha finger-bone relic. The original Tang pagoda (which contained the underground palace) was rebuilt in 1987 and stands next to the modern one. Take the elevator to the top for views of the surrounding countryside. The relic (or its replica, depending on the date) is enshrined on the 6th floor.

When to visit

The temple is open 8:30-17:30 daily. The HSR from Xi’an runs every 30-60 minutes, so day trips are flexible.

April-May and September-October have the best weather (15-25°C) and the clearest views from the modern pagoda. The temple grounds are pleasant in the late morning (10 AM) and afternoon (2-3 PM). Avoid Chinese National Day (October 1-7) when the temple is crowded with domestic tourists. Winter (December-February) is quiet but cold; the museum is indoor and warm.

How to get there

Three options from Xi’an:

HSR + taxi (recommended for independent travelers): Take the high-speed train from Xi’an North Station to Fufeng County Station, 1 hour, ¥40-60 one-way. Trains run every 30-60 minutes, 7 AM - 7 PM. From Fufeng Station, take a taxi to the temple, 30 km, ¥60-80. Total round-trip: ¥160-280 per person, 6-7 hours including 2-3 hours at the temple.

Tour bus: Tour buses depart from the Xi’an Tourism Distribution Center (Xi’an Lvyou Fafazhan) near the Bell Tower, 2 hours each way, ¥150-200 round-trip including temple entry. Less flexible but no need to negotiate a taxi.

Private car or DiDi: Private car for the day, ¥600-800 round-trip. Useful for groups of 3-4. DiDi (Chinese Uber) works in Fufeng but cars are scarce, so pre-booking a private car is more reliable.

Is it worth the day?

For most travelers, Famen Temple is the lowest-priority day trip from Xi’an. The Terracotta Army, City Wall, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda are higher priorities. Mount Hua (Huashan) is a more popular add-on day trip for travelers with 2-3 extra days.

Famen Temple is worth the day if you have a special interest in Buddhist history, Tang-dynasty art, or the Silk Road. The Tang underground palace museum is genuinely striking — the gold and silver offerings are remarkable. If you have 4+ days in Xi’an, Famen Temple is a good Day 4 add-on after the main 3-day itinerary is done.

If you have less than 3 days in Xi’an, skip Famen Temple. The day-trip overhead is significant (4+ hours round-trip) and the museum alone is not worth the trip for casual visitors.

Step by step

  1. Take HSR from Xi'an North Station to Fufeng County

    Xi'an North Station (西安北站) to Fufeng (扶风) Station, 1 hour, ¥40-60 one-way depending on class. Trains run every 30-60 minutes, 7 AM - 7 PM. Buy tickets at the station, on Trip.com, or 12306 (the China Railway app, requires a Chinese phone number for the app but the website accepts foreign passports). Passport required for ticket purchase. The train is air-conditioned and has a snack cart.

  2. Take a taxi from Fufeng Station to the temple (30 min, ¥50-80)

    Famen Temple is 30 km from Fufeng Station. The taxi queue is outside the station; agree on a price before getting in (¥60-80 is fair, the meter is rarely used). Some drivers will try ¥120-150; politely negotiate. The drive is 30 min on a quiet two-lane road. DiDi (Chinese Uber) works in Fufeng but cars are scarce; the taxi queue is more reliable.

  3. Buy the combined ticket (¥120)

    Combined ticket at the main entrance. Covers the ancient temple, the Tang underground palace museum, and the relic pagoda. There is no foreigner surcharge. Pay with Alipay, WeChat, or cash. The ticket office is to the right of the main gate. Audio guide rental is ¥20 at the entrance — recommended for the underground palace museum.

  4. Visit the ancient temple (30 min)

    The current Famen Temple was rebuilt in the Ming and Qing dynasties on Tang foundations. The main hall (Mahavira Hall) houses Buddhist statues. The temple is less impressive than the Big Wild Goose Pagoda or the Small Wild Goose Pagoda; allow 30 minutes for a quick walk-through. The real highlight is next.

  5. Visit the Tang underground palace museum (60-90 min, the highlight)

    In 1987, archaeologists opened the sealed Tang-dynasty underground palace beneath the temple and discovered over 2,000 gold, silver, jade, porcelain, and silk offerings, plus the finger-bone relic of the Buddha. The museum displays the offerings in a darkened hall with dramatic lighting. Highlights: a 1.96m gold and silver pagoda, a gold Buddhist scepter, Tang-era silk embroidery, and a complete set of 13 gold offerings. Allow 60-90 minutes. The audio guide is worth it for the historical context.

  6. Visit the modern relic pagoda (20 min)

    The relic pagoda is a 148m modern structure built in 2009 to enshrine the Buddha finger-bone relic. The original Tang pagoda (which contained the underground palace) was rebuilt in 1987 and stands next to the modern one. Take the elevator to the top for views of the surrounding countryside. The relic (or its replica, depending on the date) is enshrined on the 6th floor.

  7. Have lunch in the temple's restaurant (30 min, ¥40-60)

    The temple complex has a few simple restaurants serving Shaanxi-style noodles and dumplings. The food is basic but the prices are fair. The Buddhist vegetarian restaurant is worth trying if you have time. Allow 30 minutes for a relaxed lunch.

  8. Return to Xi'an by 5 PM

    Last HSR from Fufeng to Xi'an North is around 8:30 PM, so you have flexibility. Plan to leave the temple by 4 PM to catch a 5 PM train, returning to Xi'an North Station by 6 PM. From Xi'an North, take Metro Line 2 south to the Bell Tower (30 min, ¥5).

  9. Pair with Mount Hua (separate day, optional)

    Famen Temple pairs naturally with Mount Hua (Huashan), the iconic Taoist mountain 130 km east of Xi'an. They are on opposite sides of the city and cannot be done in the same day. For a 2-day add-on: Famen Temple on one day (Buddhist history), Mount Hua on the other (Taoist mountain + famous Plank Walk). For a 2-3 day Xi'an trip, Mount Hua is the more popular add-on; Famen Temple is for travelers with deeper interest in Buddhist heritage.

FAQ

  • Three options: (1) High-speed train from Xi'an North Station to Fufeng County Station, 1 hour, ¥40-60 one-way, then 30-min taxi to the temple. (2) Tour bus from the Xi'an Tourism Distribution Center near the Bell Tower, 2 hours each way, ¥150-200 round-trip including temple entry. (3) Private car or DiDi for ¥600-800 round-trip, 2 hours each way. The HSR + taxi is the most foreigner-friendly option.
  • Combined ticket ¥120 covers the ancient temple, the Tang underground palace museum, and the relic pagoda. There is no foreigner surcharge. Audio guide is ¥20 at the entrance. The HSR + taxi option runs ¥80-120 each way depending on class. The tour bus option is ¥150-200 round-trip including entry.
  • In 1987, archaeologists opened the sealed Tang-dynasty underground palace at Famen Temple and discovered a finger-bone relic of the Buddha (Sakyamuni) — one of only a few in the world and the only one in China. The relic is now enshrined in the relic pagoda on the temple grounds. The relic is rotated for public viewing only on specific Buddhist holidays (roughly 4-6 times per year); the rest of the time, a replica is displayed.
  • Yes if you have a special interest in Buddhist history, Tang-dynasty art, or the Silk Road. The Tang underground palace museum is one of the most important Tang-era finds in China — over 2,000 gold, silver, jade, and porcelain offerings discovered in 1987. No if you have less than 3 days in Xi'an: the day is 6-7 hours round-trip from the city, and the Terracotta Army, City Wall, and Big Wild Goose Pagoda are higher priorities for most travelers.
  • 2-3 hours at the temple. The site has three main sections: the ancient temple (rebuilt Ming-Qing dynasty), the Tang underground palace museum (the highlight), and the modern relic pagoda. Allow 30 min for the ancient temple, 60-90 min for the underground palace museum, 20 min for the relic pagoda, and 30 min for lunch. Add 2 hours each way for transport.
  • Only on specific Buddhist holidays, roughly 4-6 times per year (often the 15th day of the 1st, 2nd, and 6th lunar months, plus Buddha's birthday). A replica is on display in the relic pagoda on other days. The replica is identical in appearance to the original. The original is preserved in a sealed case inside the pagoda and is not visible to the public outside the rotation dates.
  • April-May and September-October for the weather (15-25°C). The temple grounds are pleasant in the late morning (10 AM) and afternoon (2-3 PM). Avoid Chinese National Day (October 1-7) when the temple is crowded with domestic tourists. The HSR from Xi'an runs every 30-60 minutes, so day trips are flexible.
  • Not realistically — Mount Hua (Huashan) is 130 km east of Xi'an and Famen Temple is 110 km west; they are on opposite sides of the city. Allow a full day for each. If you have 2 extra days, do Famen Temple on one day (Buddhist history) and Mount Hua on another (the iconic Taoist mountain). For a 2-3 day Xi'an trip, Mount Hua is the more popular add-on; Famen Temple is for travelers with deeper interest in Buddhist heritage.

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