Few places capture the identity of Shanghai as powerfully as Jing’An Temple. Surrounded by glass skyscrapers, busy highways and constant traffic, this historic Buddhist temple stands like a reminder of another era in the middle of one of the world’s most modern cities.
I photographed the area around Jing’An Temple both during the day and at night, exploring the visual dialogue between traditional Chinese architecture and Shanghai’s rapidly evolving urban landscape. What makes this location so fascinating is not simply the beauty of the temple itself, but the striking contrast created by its surroundings.
The golden roofs of the temple immediately draw attention. Their curved edges, ornate carvings and intricate details reflect centuries of Chinese architectural tradition. Dragons, mythical creatures and layered pagodas glow warmly under changing light, standing in sharp opposition to the cold reflective surfaces of nearby skyscrapers. In many ways, the scene feels like a visual summary of modern Shanghai: history and futurism occupying the same space.
During the daytime, the contrast appears almost architectural and graphic. The temple’s golden tones stand out against the blue and green glass towers rising behind it, while trees and open spaces soften the transition between tradition and urban density. Looking through the camera, I was constantly drawn to the relationship between lines and textures – the smooth verticality of modern buildings facing the complex curves and handcrafted ornamentation of the temple roofs.
At night, the atmosphere changes completely. The temple begins to glow under warm lighting while traffic flows endlessly through the surrounding streets and elevated highways. Rain added another layer to the scenes I photographed, turning the roads into reflective surfaces filled with red and white light trails. Long exposures transformed the moving cars into streams of light surrounding the stillness of the temple, reinforcing the contrast between speed and permanence.
One of the most striking aspects of Jing’An Temple is the way it resists disappearing into the modern city around it. Despite the scale of Shanghai’s skyscrapers, the temple remains visually powerful. Its golden architecture creates a focal point that naturally draws the eye, even in the middle of one of the busiest districts in the city.
Photographing Jing’An Temple reminded me that Shanghai is not simply a futuristic metropolis. Beneath the glass towers and highways, there are still places deeply connected to Chinese history, spirituality and craftsmanship. The coexistence of these two worlds – ancient and modern, quiet and chaotic – is what gives the city much of its unique visual identity.
Location : Shanghai, China
Camera :
• Nikon Z5
• Nikon Z6 III
Lens :
• Nikon 105mm Z MC f/2.8
• Nikon 24-120mm Z f/4
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