International Buddhist Temple

I really enjoy visiting the International Buddhist Temple. It’s such a calm and peaceful place to pray and clear my mind. Everything feels so balanced and beautiful here. During the fall season, the trees turn red and the view is absolutely stunning. A perfect place to find peace and quiet ✨🙏🏻

Such a peaceful and beautiful place! 🪷 The architecture is stunning, and the gardens are so calming and well maintained. You really feel a sense of serenity here. Definitely worth visiting if you want a quiet escape from the city — I highly recommend it!

​★★★★★ ​An absolutely magical and serene visit. The International Buddhist Temple is a true gem in Richmond. The architecture, inspired by the Forbidden City, is breathtaking and feels incredibly authentic. The gardens are a peaceful haven with their pond, bridges, and rock sculptures. ​It's the perfect place to find tranquility and reflect. I loved the peaceful atmosphere and the beauty of the interior, especially the great Buddha statue. The volunteers are so kind, and you can see the care in every single detail of the place. An experience that is totally worth it! Without a doubt, a place to come back to.

Such an amazing and peaceful place to visit. The temple grounds are beautifully designed, with stunning architecture, serene ponds, and lovely gardens. Everything is very well maintained. When we went, it was unfortunately rainy, but there were still other visitors, which shows how special this place is. A great spot for quiet reflection and to enjoy the beauty of the surroundings, rain or shine.

The International Buddhist Temple is such a peaceful and beautiful place to visit. The architecture, gardens, and detailed sculptures are absolutely stunning and anyone can feel calm the moment they walk in. It’s incredibly well maintained, with so much to see and appreciate, from the main shrine halls to the koi pond and traditional Chinese style courtyards. Even on a busy day, it feels quiet and relaxing. A perfect spot to unwind, reflect, or just enjoy some peaceful time away from the city noise. Truly a hidden gem in Richmond and definitely worth a visit! 🌸🙏

First time visiting a Buddhist Temple. It was amazing, majestic, rich, and peaceful all at the same time. Incredible work behind the scenes to maintain such a wonderful place in very tidy and organized conditions. I loved the calm and the sense of gratitude and respect that is everywhere. The quotes on the screens and signage are so true, and they make you think the meaning of life. Great experience that I highly recommend to everyone, even if not religious. Kudos to the organizers and the volunteers taking care of this wonderful place. You all did a fantastic job for everyone to enjoy. And it's FREE!! Thank you. 👏 👏🙏🙏🏼

🙏🏻 A Peaceful Visit to the International Buddhist Temple Brought my parents here to this serene and majestic Buddhist temple — a place that feels calm the moment you step in. The golden roofs and elegant garden design radiate such graceful Eastern beauty ✨ While offering our prayers, we also took a quiet moment to give thanks — for how smoothly and beautifully this journey has gone. And of course, we wished for more days ahead filled with peace, health, and good fortune 🍃 🍲 Vegetarian Feast at Xiang Zhai Kitchen Hidden inside the temple grounds is this one-of-a-kind vegetarian restaurant 🌿 Surprisingly, the abbot is also the head chef! 👨‍🍳 Each dish is prepared with such sincerity and care that you can truly taste it in every bite. Simple ingredients, yet so full of depth and balance — a reminder that “spiritual practice” isn’t just about the mind, but also about finding beauty in everyday living 💚

I couldn’t believe such a peaceful place exists right inside Vancouver. The temple is very clean, beautifully maintained, and offers an amazing experience. It’s a perfect spot to enjoy quiet moments and reflect.

Free to visit. This place is cool, free parking and so many buddha sculptures. Also a box of kneel and pray.

This is a nice and peaceful place to visit. There's free parking inside and no entrance fees. It's very peaceful and serene. Get a peak and insight of the Buddhist world. People are nice. It can be a place of reflection even for non-Buddhists as there are lots of spaces throughout the park where one can meditate or just stay silent, from the hustle and bustle of the city. Although this is in the middle of the city. Going into the temple videos and pictures are restricted. People actually pray all over the place so it will be courteous not to be too loud when talking. It's a good place to visit.

A beautifully kept Buddhist temple that welcomes all sorts of people. There are multiple places to burn incense, learn about Buddhism and admire the views. Immaculate, peaceful and a very authentic experience.

I've come here a couple of times. My most recent visit was on a rainy day for my annual 清明節 pilgrimage. It was exactly as I have seen before. 大肚佛s, 菩薩s and 觀音s are the flavours of the day all over the friggin' place. It was very quiet the day I came. Hardly anyone was around. Rain kept them away I guess. I'm not religious at all so these places don't do much for me, spiritually or anything else. I did find the place for my maternal grandparents. They're here.

International Buddhist Society was one of the best sites I saw during our road trip to Vancouver. This is located in Richmond, came on the way back to the states. Huge free parking lot. It was super peaceful here. I loved all the statues of the Eighteen Arahats. Great collection of gold buddhist statues. Outside of Thailand, this was one of my favorite Buddhist temples I have been to. Give yourself enough time to explore the entire temple!

A beautiful temple that is free to the public! As you enter the temple the right side has fountains and bridges with various floral. Then the right side has the buildings with stunning statues and architecture. There are other sections with more statues and gardens across the parking lot as well. We explored the place in just half an hour. The location is a little far from Downtown Vancouver, but is pleasant for a stroll if you happen to be in the area. Note that various parts have no photography signs as people do come for religious purposes.

This place is very beautiful and it's soooo peaceful here. However, We did not come here to worship. We came here to see all the wonderful things said by Yelpers. We couldn't pass by an opportunity since we wanted to explore all of Vancouver and beyond. Love the garden and all the different areas for personal intentions and prayers. For those who haven't been to a temple before, this place will make you go WOW! No Entrance Fee and everyone gave us warm welcome. They also did a superb job architectural wise. I was able to capture some of parts of the temple, garden area, and worship area. I hope you like them. Enjoy!

I was born catholic and i am proud of my religious affilation,my mother land which is Philippines was colonized by spaniards for hundred of years from them we got our catholic blood and spanish names and last names.....i have nothing against my religion but by curiosity im also interested to learn others specially when i came to canada and live here....everything is so diverse,everything is so multicultural....... i visited this place while driving...steveston village was actually my target for that day.im into photography actually and that day i wanted to captures anything by the water.....i did...and the temple was just an extra. my very first encounter....very solemn,the music they play is a melody that right away relaxes me,im not really sure if it was really the music or the effect of the burning incenst placed by patron. i was mesmerized when i entered the gate,...huge golden buddha,quite and very peaceful.im having palpatations at first...unexplainable feeling.....i went upstair to investigate whats in there....even bigger buddha...even im not a buddhist i gave thanks and pray....i made a wish actually because it was my fisrt time in there that time.......wish granted....from then i always visited the place.......a catholic guy who also pray to buddha.....funny but true.....

Came here in August 2012 with family. Mom had mentioned we were brought to a temple before (on a trip to vancouver maybe ~ 10 yrs ago). Of course, i turn to yelp for help. This is one of the nicest temples i've been to, in the continent. I'm surprised it's not more well known ! The pond in front of the temple entrance is beautiful. The different shades of green, and various other colors from flowers, trees, the sky... all together makes a WONDERFUL sight. Everything is self guided, and free but as with most, if not all temples, donations are welcome. Walking around the garden, as well as inside the temple, you are educated on the different dieties and gods, as well as some history. Definitely must come. Great for families, especially of asian heritage. Words can only express so much. Will let the pictures I had uploaded to some of the talking :] Picture can mean a thousand words right? :D

If you haven't seen the majesty Buddhist temples in Hong Kong, you are in luck! A Cantonese-style temple complex, International Buddhist Temple is less than an hour drive away from downtown Vancouver. Here, you can witness both the grandeur of the imperial Chinese palace theme in the building colors and styles as well as the tranquility within the garden and the prayer halls. Whether you are a Buddhist or not, this is a good sightseeing place to see beautiful yet peaceful Chinese architecture. From the parking lot, you will be greeted by a modest archway with the cheerful Fat Buddha welcoming your visit. Walk past him and you will find a small shack that sells incense and candles to pay respect before you reach an outdoor corridor where you are flaked by a small Chinese garden on your right and Bodhisattva statues by the inner complex entrance on your left. Enter through the small inner entrance and the complex suddenly opens out like the enlightenment of the mind as you finally meet the towering Grand Hall on a tall foundation. The atmosphere remains serene despite the decently-sized crowd probably because of awe and reverence, so this temple is a great stop to take a break from Vancouver's bustling urban scene. International Buddhist Temple definitely has a tranquil environment and an architectural display that is rare to experience in North America, and I would highly recommend going out of your way to see this temple.

The temple is a hidden gem in Steveston area! Speaking from experience of a world traveler who has visited Temples throughout Asian, this location is like stepping onto another continent! We had an eye opening cultural experience a car ride away. We learned a lot and took beautiful photos for FREE! Great experience for the culturally/religiously curious.

I have visited many Buddhist temples throughout my travels in China but this one in Richmond, BC remains a favourite. Due to the sheer volume of tourists and the general population size in China, it's hard to feel the tranquility and peacefulness in the temples there. I was shocked to find such a serene and beautiful temple here in Richmond. Despite being located on the Stevenson Highway of all places, it isn't noisy at all. It is a must to visit as you can learn about the religion through one of the interpreters that sits in the office in the Hall of Supreme Harmony, where the main Buddha sits. It's a great way to see the amazing sculptures and the beautifully maintained garden outside. Just remember not to take pictures of the sculptures. You can make a donation in the donation boxes or buy flowers and/or incense from the Hall of Supreme Harmony. The place can get a little smokey from the incense that's burning outside but nothing too crazy. There's plenty of free parking and there is no admission fee.

I was at the temple to do the annual spirit renewal thing where we have to give our thanks to the buddhas. In my case, you can call it the "Thanks and give me another spiritual insurance contract please" event. It can be a great inspiration for those who like drawing or just need a time to chill and smell the fresh air/incense. People here will be burning incense here as a friendly reminder so if you want to move to the cleaner side, just go to the pond area. Reminder: Find a deer that look likes a dragon and you know something is not right with the picture.

My first visit to a Buddhist Temple. It was a surreal experience and felt very spiritual even though we did not come here to worship. The surroundings are beautiful and the garden is lovely. It was a lovely experience!!!

Pretty impressive display of Buddhas, some enclosed in glass. Some reaching 30 feet high, in the main area. I remember coming here as a kid and had to remove your shoes, but seems they've relaxed that in the past 5 years or so. Back building had the chinese new year souvenirs, plants, etc. Ground level also has a place to eat vegetarian food. Kudos to the parking people directing traffic, huge lot for sure.

After I saw images online of this temple I knew I have to come check it out. The architecture is stunning, and so the garden. Entry is free, but there are boxes to give donations. Pictures are not allowed in several areas of the temple however this does not diminish the experience. All the male and female buddhist monks working here are happy and upbeat. Me, and my friend took the opportunity to draw the architecture, and gardens. Many of the monks came over to talk to us, and look at our artwork. Everyone is friendly even if they don't all speak english. Incense is available here for sale to burn but it's cash only and about $3. I'm not sure if bringing your own incense is frowned upon but I didn't see any there. There are places to give offerings of fruit and candy to Buddha, and an area to meditate. It's quiet peaceful, and even if your not Buddhist I'd recommend checking it out. 2 things to watch for though -bathrooms were a bit dirty when I went -bird poop from the trees. A bird pooped on my bag not once but twice in one day :I TIP for those who want to draw there: go when it's warm. I went around the fall and it was freezing

When I visited this Buddhist Temple I was on my way to Vancouver for a weekend vacation to explore the city. It was the first Buddhist Temple I'd ever been to and I was unclear exactly what to expect. I knew that I wasn't supposed to use any recording devices and that I should try to be respectful (both common sense directives). Other than that I was expecting something small and a little bit... well, most churches built in the US are kind of cheesy or plain. This Temple, however, was amazing. To put it simply: if you're driving to Vancouver from Washington state than you should 100% definitely stop here. I could gush for a while about all of the beautiful stonework and how wonderful it was to wander around the temple grounds, but that would lead to a lot of "tl;dr" responses. Just know that the temple is worth visiting and that you'll really enjoy the experience. Even in the pouring rain I often found myself pausing in a courtyard to just chill out in front of a particularly moving stone edifice.

An interesting, spiritual and cultural tourist attraction. This temple features many Gods and Deities in the Bhuddist religion. For those unfamiliar to the Bhuddist ways, I'm quite sure guides can be arranged. I remember visiting this place on a field trip many years ago, and we had a guide! We were given a 101 crash course on the religion and its many Deities. In the temple, you will find lots of beautiful statues. Photos are allowed in almost all areas. The architecture is enjoyable with or without the faith. The garden is worth a stroll if you are not up for exploring the temple itself. It's a small garden, but very well kept and comfortable. It has a pond! Ponds always keep me entertained for longer than it should. Spot the fishes and tortoises!

I loved the colors at the temple complex: red, gold, and green popped out everywhere--the pictures you take will be very beautiful. We spent about an hour walking around the entire complex, and we didn't even see all of it. This is a great place to visit, relax, and enjoy the sights.

Gorgeous place reminds me very much of temples in China. Even better kept than compared to a lot if the ones in China. They even offer learning classes as well. Too bad is place isn't in the Bay Area. :(

I was invited by my Buddhist friend last year to check out the place. OMG such a beautiful place. You feel so peaceful just walking in here. Very impressive arrangement. Very welcoming community and people. One of the hidden treasures in Richmond.

We stumbled in to this when we were looking to get back on the highway. What a pleasant surprise! It was a Sunday and lots of families were there worshipping so we felt a little weird being there as tourists. The architecture was way worth it though. There is an amazing gold Buddha that I would have love to have photographed but there are some areas where no photo signs are posted. I also loved the lotus they have growing near the pond. Both the gardens and the temple are so serene and beautiful. I highly recommend stopping in.

I have been to many Buddhist temples but never in the states. As temples go, this one is pretty amazing. From the ornate roofs to the mass lines of candles signifying lord-knows-what - as Sarah says, if you're heading to Vancouver, you should definitely swing by. You can spend 20 min or 2 hours - we hung around for about 30 mins, took some cool photos of the garden leading into the temple cause once you're in - no pics! A great idea to check out if this is your type of thing.

I live in Louisiana and I always wanted to visit Vancouver. The very first thing I did when I arrived was to visit this beautiful Buddhist Temple. The Buddha's statue in the main hall welcomes everybody who comes to pray and you can feel his love flowing everywhere you walk. The gardens, the music, the architecture, the Buddhas' statues nurtures the soul. Reverend Guan Cheng has a heart of gold and his kindness is uplifting. I love placing flowers and incense to all the Buddhas, it is a Temple for everybody who wants to help this world to be a better place. Just go and feel the Buddha's love. If you have plans to visit Vancouver make the journey to the International Buddhist Temple and you will be blessed during your stay at this beautiful city. I certainly did!

this temple was amazing and great, when u guys believe on buddha you should asking for pak pue is 100% correct and the buddha will tell you .....

This place is free admission and a great place to visit if you have never been to a Buddhist temple or a Chinese style palace before. This place is the closest thing to a Chinese temple in China. It is actually quite big when compares with other Buddhist temples in N. America. There are quite a bit to see and the main Buddha sitting in the Hall of Supreme Harmony is amazing.

I read about this as an attraction to visit while in Richmond. During our short visit we decided to drop by. But due to circumstances it was a bit rushed. We were only able to spare 20 minutes or so ere. We bought some incense and took 1/2 a dozen pics. The garden is very peaceful and nice. The grounds are beautiful.

Very nice temple. The buddha sculptures inside are amazing. The ground is small but very tranquil and beautiful. The best buddhist temple I visited outside China.