In Buddhism, an arhat is someone who has attained enlightenment. And in the midst of bustling downtown Chongqing, China, Arhat Temple is a little slice of tranquility - that is if you can transcend the excitement of one of the city's busiest sections. With the serene details of its architecture, the leafy vines that grow gently in courtyard corners, meditative sounds of praying monks, and soothing aromas of incense, Arhat Temple invites the visitor to shed the chaos of the skyscraper-lined streets outside, and step into a setting of calm.

Originally built one thousand years ago during the Song Dynasty, Arhat Temple was restored in 1752, 1945, and again last year. In the late 1800s, during the reign of Emperor Guangxu, a hall of arhat statues was added, giving the temple its current name. Five hundred of the huge, colorful figures fill the hall. They sit jovially amongst each other as if in conversation. The gold trim of their sage and lavender robes shines in the light. Other distinctive sites within the temple include a large golden statue of Buddha, a mural depicting the life of Prince Siddhartha, and a long hallway of exceptionally carved stone. New additions include a meditation room and a depository of Buddhist text. Stop for a meal at the temple's vegetarian restaurant before heading back across the Yangtze River to the gorgeous new Le Meridien Chongqing, Nan'an where a "sensory journey" created by sound artist Henri Scars Struck will help you maintain that blissful state of serenity.

[image via toocle]