Where It's Located
The temple is planned for Shanghai, People's Republic of China.
However, the exact location has not been announced. The temple's current status is listed as being in the planning and approval phase, with no groundbreaking date announced.
Because the site has not been released, there is currently no temple address to provide.
Getting There
Shanghai is one of the world's largest cities and is served by two major airports, including Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.
However, there is an important distinction for anyone interested in visiting this temple:
This temple is not intended for international temple tourists.
President Russell M. Nelson specifically explained when announcing the temple that it would not be a temple for tourists from other countries. Access will be limited to qualifying Chinese members according to the arrangements established for the facility.
Therefore, unlike most temple travel guides, this is not a temple that international Latter-day Saints should plan a future temple trip around.
A Historic Announcement
President Russell M. Nelson announced the Shanghai People's Republic of China Temple on April 5, 2020, during the April 2020 General Conference.
It was a historic announcement because the temple would become the first temple on Mainland China.
The announcement was also different from the announcement of a conventional large temple complex.
President Nelson explained that the planned facility would be a modest multipurpose meeting place that would provide Chinese members with a way to participate in temple ordinances for themselves and their ancestors within the People's Republic of China.
Why Shanghai?
The temple is intended to serve Chinese members living in Mainland China.
For more than two decades, temple-worthy members in the People's Republic of China had traveled to the Hong Kong China Temple to participate in temple ordinances.
That arrangement became more complicated when the Hong Kong China Temple closed in July 2019 for a major renovation.
The announcement of the Shanghai temple provided a way for Chinese members to eventually participate in temple ordinances within Mainland China itself.
The Hong Kong Connection
The Shanghai temple will follow the Hong Kong China Temple, which was dedicated in 1996.
The Hong Kong temple was the first temple associated with China and remains an important part of the Church's history in the region.
The Shanghai temple will therefore become the second temple in China but the first temple on Mainland China.
That distinction is historically significant.
A Temple Unlike Most Others
Perhaps the most unusual aspect of the Shanghai temple is its intended use.
Most Latter-day Saint temples around the world serve members from a broad geographic area and can become destinations for temple trips.
Shanghai is different.
The temple is specifically intended for Chinese citizens who hold a valid temple recommend.
That includes qualifying Chinese citizens living in Hong Kong or Macau who possess a Mainland Travel Permit.
Expatriate members who are not Chinese citizens will not be permitted to use the temple.
Why Are There Special Restrictions?
The Church's legal status in China requires Chinese and expatriate congregations to meet separately.
That legal framework affects how the Shanghai facility will operate.
Consequently, the temple's intended attendance is limited to Chinese members who meet the requirements and hold a valid temple recommend.
This makes the Shanghai temple one of the most unusual temple projects in the worldwide Church.
Appointment-Only Access
President Nelson explained that, in the initial phase of facility use, entry will be by appointment only.
This reinforces the fact that the facility is designed to serve the local Chinese Latter-day Saint population rather than function as a public tourist attraction.
Current Status
The Shanghai People's Republic of China Temple remains in the planning stages.
Current milestones include:
- Announcement: April 5, 2020
- Site: Not announced
- Groundbreaking: Not announced
- Construction: Not started
- Rendering: Not publicly released
- Open house: Not announced
- Dedication: Not announced
The project has therefore not progressed to the construction stage.
Temple Design
One of the few things publicly known about the future building is that it will be modest in appearance.
The design will be intended to fit and be consistent with local custom and the surrounding environment.
No public architectural rendering has been released.
That means details such as:
- Square footage
- Number of floors
- Spire design
- Exterior materials
- Instruction rooms
- Sealing rooms
- Baptistry
- Landscaping
have not been publicly established.
No Public Rendering
Unlike many recently announced temples, there is currently no publicly released rendering of the Shanghai temple.
That makes it impossible to accurately describe what the finished building will look like.
The description of a modest building consistent with its surroundings is the extent of the publicly available design information at this point.
The First Temple on Mainland China
The historical significance of this project cannot be overstated.
Once completed, the Shanghai People's Republic of China Temple will become:
- The first temple in Mainland China
- The second temple in China
- A temple specifically established to serve qualifying Chinese citizens within the People's Republic of China
For the Church's global temple network, that makes Shanghai an important milestone.
Temple Worship for Chinese Members
The central purpose of the project is accessibility.
Before the Shanghai announcement, Chinese members who wanted to attend the temple had relied on the Hong Kong China Temple.
The Shanghai facility is intended to provide a way for Chinese members to participate in temple ordinances within Mainland China.
That makes the project fundamentally different from a typical new temple announcement.
It is less about creating a destination and more about creating a place where a specific community can worship.
Ancestors and Family History
President Nelson specifically connected the Shanghai facility with temple ordinances performed for members and their ancestors.
That makes family history an important part of the temple's purpose.
The Church's worldwide temple system is closely connected with genealogical research and performing ordinances on behalf of deceased ancestors.
For Chinese members, having access to temple ordinances within Mainland China could make that work more accessible.
Exploring Shanghai
Although the temple itself will not be a tourist destination for international Latter-day Saints, Shanghai itself is one of the world's most fascinating cities to visit.
The city combines:
- Traditional Chinese culture
- Historic neighborhoods
- Colonial-era architecture
- Modern skyscrapers
- World-class restaurants
- Major museums
- Extensive public transportation
- The iconic Huangpu River
A trip to Shanghai can offer an incredible look at both historic and modern China.
The Bund
One of Shanghai's most famous landmarks is the Bund, the historic waterfront promenade along the Huangpu River.
Historic European-style buildings line one side while the spectacular Shanghai skyline rises across the river in Pudong.
The contrast makes the Bund one of the city's most recognizable views.
Pudong Skyline
Across the Huangpu River is Pudong, home to some of Shanghai's most famous skyscrapers.
The skyline includes landmarks such as the Shanghai Tower, Shanghai World Financial Center, and Oriental Pearl Tower.
It is one of the most dramatic modern cityscapes in the world.
Yu Garden
For a very different experience, Yu Garden provides a glimpse of traditional Chinese garden design.
The historic garden includes ponds, rock formations, pavilions, bridges, and traditional architecture.
The surrounding area is also known for shops and traditional Chinese food.
Shanghai's Food Scene
Shanghai is one of China's great culinary destinations.
Visitors can experience dishes such as:
- Xiaolongbao
- Shengjian mantou
- Shanghai-style noodles
- Braised pork
- Chinese dumplings
- Regional Chinese cuisines from throughout the country
The city's enormous population also means that virtually every major regional Chinese cuisine can be found somewhere in Shanghai.
Why the Shanghai Temple Matters
The significance of the Shanghai temple isn't primarily architectural.
It is historical and religious.
For decades, Chinese Latter-day Saints have had to travel outside Mainland China to participate in temple ordinances.
The planned Shanghai facility represents an effort to provide Chinese citizens with a temple experience within the country itself.
It is also an important illustration of how the Church's temples sometimes have to be adapted to the legal and cultural circumstances of individual countries.
A Very Different Temple Trip
If you're creating a temple travel series, the Shanghai temple is worth treating differently from the other temples you've covered.
For temples such as Seoul, Sapporo, or São Paulo, you can discuss:
"How can I visit this temple?"
For Shanghai, the more appropriate question is:
"Who will this temple serve, and why is it historically significant?"
That distinction is important because international visitors should not assume they will be able to attend the temple.
President Nelson explicitly stated that the Shanghai temple would not be a temple for tourists from other countries.
Planning a Visit
The Shanghai People's Republic of China Temple is not currently open.
There is no announced temple site, groundbreaking date, open house, or dedication date.
More importantly, even after completion, the facility is intended specifically for qualifying Chinese citizens, rather than international temple visitors.
If you are traveling to Shanghai as an international visitor, you can still explore the city and learn about the temple's historic significance, but you should not plan an international temple session there.
Final Thoughts
The Shanghai People's Republic of China Temple is one of the most unusual and historically significant temples in the worldwide temple network.
President Russell M. Nelson announced the temple on April 5, 2020, making it the first temple announced for Mainland China.
The project is currently in the planning and approval phase, and no site, groundbreaking date, or architectural rendering has been publicly announced.
When completed, it will become the first temple on Mainland China and the second temple in China, following the Hong Kong China Temple.
But its greatest distinction is its intended audience. The temple is planned specifically for Chinese citizens who hold valid temple recommends, including qualifying Chinese citizens living in Hong Kong and Macau with a Mainland Travel Permit. Expatriate members and international temple tourists will not be permitted to attend.
For Chinese Latter-day Saints, however, the project represents something much more personal: the opportunity to participate in temple ordinances for themselves and their ancestors within Mainland China.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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