Giant Buddha Temple

Introducing Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple (from wikipedia)
The Giant Buddha Temple is notable for its gigantic reclining Buddha statue made around 1100 during the Western Xia period, which is thirty-five metres long. It has had several names over the centuries, including the "Kasyapa Buddha Temple" , the "Bojue Temple", the "Hongren Temple", the "Reclining Buddha Temple", and the present name "Giant Buddha Temple". The temple was built around the beginning of the 12th century, during the Western Xia (1038–1227) period. The history of the temple relates that in 1098, a monk called Sineng Weimie had seen numinous lights and heard heavenly sounds coming from a nearby hill at the foot of a mountain. Investigating the area, Sineng unearthed a hoard which included a reclining Buddha statue and set out to build a great temple in honour of the image, which he believed had been revealed by divine favour. The nirvana image in the temple has a long history of patrons and visitors and has been protected for centuries by its Buddhist monks, but it has also suffered from decay and restoration.

Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Da Fo Si 大佛寺
• Best Time to Visit: April, May, Sept & October
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 1 to 2 hours
• Type: Sacred site, Buddhism
• Opening Hours: 8:00-18:00 from Apr to Oct; 8:30-17:30 from Nov to Mar
• Entrance Fee: CNY41
• Address: Dafosi Alley, Minzhu West Road, Ganzhou District, Zhangye, Gansu Province

What to expect at Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple
The Giant Buddha Temple consists of several buildings including the Giant Buddha Hall, the Hall of Scriptures, Earthen Tower, Gold Tower Hall, Buddhist Art Exhibition Hall, Shanxi Provincial Guild Hall, etc.

Giant Buddha Hall
The Giant Buddha Hall which contains the Buddha is a two-storied building, 48 metres (157 ft) long and 24 metres (79 ft) wide, with a height of 33 metres (108 ft). The gold-plated and painted Giant Buddha lies in the middle of the hall. This huge statue is made of clay on a wooden frame and depicts the Gautama Buddha's attainment of nirvana, with his ten disciples standing behind him. It is largely unaltered since the time of the Western Xia (1038–1227). The reclining Buddha is 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide between its two shoulders, with feet of 4 meters and ears of 2 meters. The walls of the hall are covered with colorful Qing dynasty (1644–1911) murals. The mural tells the story of Xuanzang and his followers, showing Xuanzang riding on a horse and the monkey king kneeling on the ground.

The Hall of Scriptures
The Hall of Scriptures has a double wall behind it and is forty metres long, twenty metres high. there are more than 6000 volumes of sutras, some of which, written in gold and silver, are the rarest and most precious. These sutras are of great research significance and can be called national treasures.

How to get to Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple
• The Giant Buddha Temple is located in downtown Zhangye
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Zhangye to the Giant Buddha Temple.