The Ling Yin Si is the most ancient monastery in Hangzhou. It is situated to the west of the West Lake and in between the Northern Peak and the Fei Lai Feng (Peak that Flew Over).

It was built in the first year of Emperor Xian He of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (326 AD) which is otherwise known as Yun Ling Monastery. In the final period of Five Dynasties, rooms of monks alone were of 1300 odd and it was claimed to have 9 buildings, 18 pavilions and 72 halls, a scale you just imagine. Today, buildings inside the monastery are Hall of Heavenly King, The Precious Hall of the Great Hero, the Chain Lamp pavilion and the Great Mercy Hall etc.

The Precious Hall of the Great Hero is the main hall of the Ling Yin Sze which is 7 rooms wide and 5 rooms deep, with one storey, three layer eaves and pinnacle roof 33.6 meters in height. On the both sides of Danchi (vermilion steps leading up to a palace) of the hall, there stand stone pagodas with 9 storeys and 8 surfaces and sculptured Buddhist stories on four walls. In the right middle of the hall there is the statue of the founder of Buddhism, Sakyamuni sculptured out of fragrant camphor wood. The total height of the image, stone platform, pedestal and lotus throne is 19.5 meters.

On the both sides of Sakyamuni stand 20 saints protecting justice and on the back wall sit his 12 disciples, Juan Jue Prophet). Besides, there is a sculpture of Buddhist mountain out of the story of Buddhist sutra aying 53 respects on which there are 150 odd big and small. Buddha images in different postures, showing the difficult process and bright future in learning Buddhism.