[Photo via VCG]

The Beijing White Dagoba Cultural Week 2026 will run from June 13 to 19 at Miaoying Temple (also known as the "White Dagoba Temple") in Beijing.

This year's Cultural Week will feature over 10 cultural sub-events, including a thematic exhibition, cultural lectures, public activities, and cultural fairs. During the event, Miaoying Temple will remain open on Monday, June 15.

Among the highlights is the exhibition titled "Buddhist Images from the West—Araniko and the Art of the Yuan Dynasty". This exhibition traces the formation, elements, and legacy of the "Buddhist Images from the West" (西天梵相) sculpting techniques pioneered by Araniko, a renowned artist during the Yuan Dynasty and the designer of the White Dagoba, providing a comprehensive overview of the historical process of Sinicization of Buddhist art during that dynasty. Exhibits include Buddhist statues from various periods, complemented by interactive multimedia means that vividly recreate the sculptural styles of the Yuan Dynasty. Together, they showcase China's long traditions of openness, inclusiveness, as well as cultural exchanges and mutual learning. The exhibition will be open to the public free of charge from June 13 to October 11 at Dajue Baodian (大觉宝殿, Hall of the Great Enlightened One) of the Administrative Office of the Beijing White Dagoba Temple.

Two cultural fairs will be held at the parking lot of the Administrative Office of the Beijing White Dagoba Temple from 12:00 on June 13 to 17:00 on June 21, with extended opening hours for the Dragon Boat Festival on June 19 (opening until 19:00). The Nepal Food Festival will offer traditional Nepalese dishes such as grilled meat, milk tea, and desserts for on-site purchasing and tasting. For the event titled "Hand-painted Friendship—Henna Art in Nepal and China", Nepalese Henna artists will offer painting services on-site, allowing visitors to choose and customize their own patterns.

Themed admission tickets for the Cultural Week will be available at 12:00 on June 13 at the entrance's ticket office. Themed tickets are available only to visitors purchasing tickets on-site. For visitors who purchase tickets online via Alipay, they can collect themed tickets' stubs at the second gate's checkpoint with their ticket codes. A range of cultural merchandise will also be available at Miaoying Temple Cultural Creative Space (白塔寺文创空间) from 12:00 on June 13.

During the Cultural Week, visitors presenting an electronic ticket for the "Maize, Gold, Jaguar—A Grand Exhibition of Ancient Maya and Andean Civilizations" can visit Miaoying Temple for free and participate in related activities.

Additionally, four on-site cultural lectures on the Yuan Dynasty's Buddhist sculptures, as well as the history and culture of the same dynasty, will be held in the Multifunction Room on the B1 level of the Capital Museum. Please follow the official WeChat account of the Capital Museum (首都博物馆) for registration details. Various educational programs will also be launched during the Cultural Week. Please follow the official WeChat account of the Administrative Office of the Beijing White Dagoba Temple (北京市白塔寺管理处) to register for participation.

(Source: Beijing Fabu)