The excavation project led by the late Professor Helmut Brinker focused on the exploration of the remains of a Buddhist temple from the 6th century in Shandong Province, Eastern China. After the first two campaigns, the team was able to clarify the overall size of the compound and the location of gates, walls and buildings. Several phases of construction on the site have been verified. 
More than 120 fragments of Buddhist sculptures were excavated along with ceramics, roof-tiles and objects of daily use. The team is currently preparing a research season with the Chinese partner institutions. A workshop with representatives of the Archaeological Institute of Shandong province was planned for April 2005 in Zurich.The next steps to be taken were to analyze the data gained in the years 2003–2004 and to prepare the publication of the results of the two previous campaigns.The project is based on research done in preparation of the exhibition “The Return of the Buddha” that was shown in Zurich, Berlin, London and Washington D.C. in 2001, 2002 and 2004.

Project leaders: Prof. Dr. Helmut Brinker, Lukas Nickel, Jorrit Britschgi.

Publications:

• Brinker Helmut, Nickel Lukas, Britschgi Jorrit: Auf der Suche nach dem Tempel des
• Weissen Drachen. Ein SLSA-Grabungsprojekt in der VR China. (Zwischenbericht zur ersten Kampagne). In: SLSA Jahresbericht 2003, 157–170.
• Nickel, Lukas and Zhengguang Li. Analysis of the Buddhist Statues from the Site of Bailong Temple in Linqu County, Shandong Province. In: Chinese Cultural Relics, No.2-4, 2014, 375-384.
• Li Zhengguang李振光 and Ni Kelu 倪克鲁. Shandong Linqu Bailongsi yizhi fajue jianbao 山东临朐白龙寺遗址发掘简报. In: Wenwu 文物1, 2014, 69-81

Project’s official webpage: http://www.archaeologie.info/drache/