http://news.iskcon.com/first_hindu_temple_be_built_china

First Hindu Temple to be Built in China

By Ved P. Chaudhary, Ph.D (Hindu Collective Initiative) for www.HCINA.org on 5 Oct 2007

It is one of the grandest Hindu temples in the capital and has been built with a lot of thought and precision. An architectural marvel, the Akshardham temple is the cynosure of all eyes.

Soon a replica of it will be constructed, thousands of miles away in China. The first Hindu temple in communist China.

The Chinese government has invited the Swaminarayan Trust that runs the Akshardham temples in Noida and in Gandhinagar, to build a similar temple.

A huge piece of land has been earmarked in Fohsan state, which will not only house the temple but also an Indian cultural centre.

"Initial thoughts are to have a cultural centre also along with the temple, a traditional Indian music learning centre and also various Indian language teaching centres including Hindi, on this temple premises," said Jagat Shah, Joint Secretary-General, Indo-China Trade Council.

The Swaminarayan Trust has welcomed the decision, saying there's much more to it than the religious angle.

"This decision taken by Chinese government, letting the Hindus build a temple in China is to be appreciated highly. Its not only question of spirituality but also in many other ways both the countries will benefit. There will also be cultural exchange between people living in these two countries and that outcome will help in spiritual and physical growth of citizens of India and China," said Jasraj Maharaj, religious guru in the Swaminarayan Sect.

A core team of the trust is busy preparing the final design plan. Members of the team and the Indo-China Trade Council are expected to visit the proposed temple site soon.

A team of officials from one of China's prestigious construction companies that will execute the project is now in India to study the architecture of Swaminarayan temple.

"China is also very good at construction and especially our company actually focuses on various types of construction designs. I think this being a joint venture with Indian partner, design from India and construction from China, this temple will be the masterpiece," said Xiaojun Lee, Secretary of Board, Panzhihua Guanghua Group, PR China.

The first Hindu temple in the land of dragons will not just be a temple but the hub of cultural exchange between India and China.

Should be interesting to see the result, very positive step in general

What will be the purpose of this temple in China ?

Anyone if there are any Hindu(s) living in China ?

This is CCP's first step towards the becoming of what will be known to future generations as Chindia.

Well, if nothing else, YOU can always go there.

Is the temple being built in an Indian neighborhood?

Yeah, Chindia all the way baby!

You know I really don't know. I cant imagine there being too many indians in China, except for some exchange students.

Wikipedia comes to the rescue again!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hinduism_in_China

130,000 followers. If they're all in one area, I can see why they'd build a temple then.

The article says Chinese Gov't invited BAPS to build a temple in China. That is odd

Hey guys here are some BAPS pics about there first visit to China.

First Visit by BAPS Sadhus to Beijing


BAPS News achive

That's actually really encouraging to read about, I can't wait to see the finished result.

Majority of Hindus in China probably aren't Swaminarayan devotees and probably aren't clustered in one area. This places is meant to be a tourist attraction like Akshardham in New Delhi. It will be beautiful, though.

Akshardham

I wonder what the temple will look like, Hindu buildings are one of the most aesthetically superior religious structures.

It will look like the Akshardham picture above, or very similar to it.

EDIT!

Nice! So long as the temple isn't built like one of those archtypical American protestant megachurches (which are built in farm shed) I'd be fine with that.

more Akshardham pics

Very beautiful.
Hindu Temple range differently from the North to the South.
I love the structures of Hindu Temples.. so beautiful.

Like the Temple of Tanjore..

The world's largest and most expensive Hindu Temple was built in Toronto and yet I haven't had the time to pay a visit.



Chini Hindi Bhai Bhai (Indian and Chinese soldier chatting at the China/India border)

Wow! That Temple is HUGE! I love temples!

It's a beautiful thing!

is your inbox still full ?

Pics of Chindians?
And Chinese-Hindu-Dot?

Chindian

theres gotta be more than one?

Its cleared now.

LOL it's a dot, theres only one way to make a Dot and only one kind: a Circle

Yup. But I can't find their pics



Thanks

Short list of other Chindians!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chindian

I like the medium sized ones in UK and US. Theres the Bartlett temple in Chicago and Neasden temple in UK. For some reason I like the more than the massive ones. The surrounding scenery is nice to take in.

London Mandir Site(Neasden Temple)


Chicago Mandir(Bartlett temple)

There isn't any Indian neighbourhood in China right now. The economy of China is booming and is expanding rapidly and there will be more foreigners going to China to do business and it is inevitable that Indians may also be flocking into China either as expatriates or students. So a Hindu temple in China is not a bad idea at all. Afterall there are Chinese temples in India too.

The Benny Hinn of Hinduism.

^It's just a thread with pictures of some temples. Don't you have anything better to than troll on an Internet forum?

please dont joke like that!

If you ask me, the uncultured Americans needs more Hindu temples. I'm afraid those Lutheran drive-in hoosier churches aren't cutting it.

Hey do you still have that one avatar of that CCP general? Hes like fat and old and hes looking side ways. Do you have it?

Hey speaking of avatars, is that you in your avatar? Your pretty, if that's you.

I highly doubt that it's her.

are you talking about this guy ? :
http://www.indiandefenceforum.com/index.ph...491;type=avatar

Akshardham at Night!