History of Longhua Temple
Said to have been founded in 247 AD in the time of the Three Dynasties (238-51), the present Longhua Pagoda dates from 977, during the Song Dynasty. The other temple buildings were first built in 687 and rebuilt many times since. Most of those seen today date from the Guangxu period of the Qing Dynasty (1875-1909).
The area around the temple was used as a prison and execution ground for Communists prior to the Liberation; this is commemorated with a memorial on the west side of Caoxi Road.