The Giant Buddha Temple

The Giant Buddha Temple is located in the southwest part of downtown of Zhangye city, which is well known as China's biggest indoor sculpture of Nirvana Buddha. The Temple was initially built in 1098. Historic Literature records that Wei Mie, a great master in Xixia State, unearthed a gold statue of sleeping Buddha covered by jade tile, and then built this temple there. The statue of Nirvana Buddha is 34.5 meters long with the shoulder of 7.5 meters wide, feet of 4 meters and ear of 2 meters long. Decorated with the golden and colored patterns, it is vivid in lifestyle, looking awake but sleeping in fact.

The 10 disciples are sculptured behind the sleeping Buddha, and the 18 arhats standing at the both sides of the porch. On the wall of inside Hall painted the murals about the "Pilgrimage to the west" and the "Classics of mountains and rivers". More than 6000 volumes of sutra bestowed by Emperor Ying Zong of Ming Dynasty are kept well, among which the collections written with the gold and silver powder are invaluable. It is said that the Emperor Shizu (Kublai) of Yuan Dynasty was born in this Temple. At the end of Southern Song Dynasty, Zhao Xian, the emperor, became a monk here to avoid the misfortune after his captivity.

Admission fee: 41 yuan

Opening hours: 7:30 am to 5:30 pm

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