Bailin Monastery in Zhao County is a functioning Chan (Zen) Buddhist monastery with roots going back to at least the second century, though its famous association is with the Tang dynasty master Zhaozhou, who lived here for forty years and whose teaching exchanges became foundational texts of the Zen tradition. The monastery was largely destroyed during the Cultural Revolution and has been extensively rebuilt since 1988. The rebuilding has been done seriously: the main structures are now handsome and substantial, and the monastery has become a genuine centre of Chan practice and scholarship.
The grounds contain the Tang dynasty Pagoda of Zhaozhou — one of the few original structures to survive the various disruptions — which dates to around 900 CE and is a fine example of its type. The rebuilt complex around it is busy with monks and students, and the atmosphere is active rather than museological.
The monastery is closely associated with the Anji Bridge (Zhaozhou Bridge) a few kilometres away; visiting both makes a natural day trip from Shijiazhuang combining architectural and religious history from the same county.