[2024 Guangyuan Attraction] Travel Guide for Qianfuya (Updated Nov)

Thousand Buddha Cliff Stone Carvings

We arrived at the Thousand Buddha Cliff in Guangyuan in the evening. Luckily, we still had more than an hour to visit, and there were few tourists. The Thousand Buddha Cliff Stone Carvings in Guangyuan are located on the east bank of the Jialing River, 4 km north of the old city of Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province. The carvings were first created during the Northern Wei Dynasty, and were continuously carved during the Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The carvings have the longest history in Sichuan and are the largest group of stone carvings in Sichuan Province. They are known as the "Exhibition Hall of Stone Carving Art of All Dynasties." The stone carvings are the result of the Sinicization of Buddhism and cave temples. Cave temples originated in India and were carved into natural rocks and cliffs to provide a place for monks to practice. After Buddhism was introduced to China, as it became more secular, cave temples could no longer meet the needs of more believers. Therefore, shallow niches were carved into natural cliffs or statues were directly carved to form large-scale venues. In terms of architectural form, they were centered around open stone carvings of large Buddhas or large Buddha caves. The Thousand Buddha Cliff Stone Carvings are the result of the Sinicization of Buddhism. On March 4, 1961, the Thousand Buddha Cliff Stone Carvings in Guangyuan were announced as one of the first national key cultural relics protection units. Thousand Buddha Cliff

Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff - Thousand Buddhas Silent View of a Thousand Years.

🏝The Thousand Buddha Cliff is located 4 kilometers north of Guangyuan City, on the east bank of the Jialing River, on the ancient Jinshiu Shudao. It has a long history and exquisite carving skills. The grottoes were first carved in the late Northern Wei Dynasty, flourished in the Tang Dynasty, and stopped in the Qing Dynasty. Over the years, a Buddhist stone carving art treasure house has been formed, with a cliff length of nearly 388 meters, a height of 45 meters, more than 950 niches, and more than 7,000 statues. The niches are stacked and distributed, as dense as honeycombs, forming the largest grotto group in Sichuan. The Thousand Buddha Cliff was announced by the State Council as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units in 1961. It is an important part of the Jianmen Shudao National Scenic Area, and it is also the core heritage point of the World Cultural Heritage Tentative List China Shudao Jinshiudao - Guangyuan Section. In 2012, it was rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. 🏝The Thousand Buddha Cliff is located in the north of Guangyuan City, near the east bank of the Jialing River, on the ancient Jinshiu Shudao. When the sun is good, the river view is beautiful, the river water is emerald green, the sky is blue and white, and the ochre cliff walls, history and nature are so harmoniously integrated. 🏝The Thousand Buddha Cliff was first carved in the late Northern Wei Dynasty, flourished in the Tang Dynasty, and stopped in the Qing Dynasty. Over the years, it has become the largest grotto group in Sichuan. The cliff is nearly 388.8 meters long, 45.5 meters high, with more than 800 niches and more than 7,000 statues. 🏞【Main Highlights】 ⭐️South Section Niches: Big Buddha Cave, Lotus Cave, Muni Pavilion, Thousand Buddha Cave, Sleeping Buddha Niche, Many Treasures Buddha Cave (Cave 806, worth a closer look), Ruyi Wheel Guanyin, etc.; ⭐️North Section Niches: Three Buddhas Niche, Wuyou Flower Tree Niche, Maitreya Buddha Niche, Three Gods Buddha Niche, Bodhi Image Cave, Lushena Buddha, etc.; ⭐️Dayun Cave: The largest, with a total of 234 statues, 148 lotus Guanyin statues carved on the left and right walls, and a large Buddha statue in the middle of the cave is Maitreya Buddha, which is said to be the incarnation of Wu Zetian. 🍲【Guangyuan Cuisine】: Liangmian (cold noodles), the Liangmian here is different from Chengdu, you can try it; ice powder is also delicious; walnut cake, pot helmet, rice tofu, sour bean flower rice juice~ 🚥【Traffic Guide】 ⭐️Not far from the city, self-driving, taxi, and shared bicycles are all convenient, and there is a large parking lot.

Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff

🌟Explore Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff and feel the shock of history🌟 Stepping into Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff is like traveling through time and space, immersing yourself in the palace of Buddhist stone carving art. Here, the cliff is carved along the mountain, stretching 388 meters, up to 45 meters high, with 950 niches and more than 7,000 Buddha statues densely distributed, like stars, which is breathtaking. Looking up from the bottom of the cliff, the entire cliff is full of Buddha caves, which is magnificent. These stone carvings witnessed the glorious history from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, and they are known as the "exhibition hall of stone carving art of all ages". Each Buddha statue carries a profound cultural heritage and tells a thousand-year-old story. However, it is heartbreaking that the road construction in that year destroyed 2/3 of the Buddha cliff, which is very emotional. Despite this, Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff is still an excellent place for us to explore history and feel the charm of Buddhist culture. Are you moved? If you are moved, come here, listen to the echo of history together, and appreciate the charm of stone carving art!

Departing from Xi'an | 2h by high-speed train, meet the treasure city of Sichuan

📍Tour route: 1. Day1: Qianfoya - Fenghuang Mountain Park - Zhaohua Ancient City 2. Day2: Jianmenguan Scenic Area 🌟Qianfoya: Located 4 kilometers north of Guangyuan City on the east bank of the Jialing River, on the ancient Shu Road of Jinniu, it has a long history and exquisite carving skills. It is the largest grotto group in Sichuan and is known as the 'Museum of Stone Carving Art through the Ages'. 🌟Fenghuang Mountain Park: It is an urban park in Guangyuan City. The park has attractions such as Fenghuang Tower and a zoo. Climbing the Fenghuang Tower offers a panoramic view of Guangyuan City. 🌟Zhaohua Ancient City: With a long history dating back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Qin established Jiamao County here, and Liu Bei laid the foundation here during the Three Kingdoms period. It has witnessed many changes, and there are many historical sites in the city, such as the county government office and the examination shed. 🌟Jianmenguan Scenic Area: Known for being majestic, dangerous, strange, and secluded, it is called 'the first majestic pass in the world' and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area includes Jianmenguan Pass Tower, Jianmen's Seventy-two Peaks, Shisun Peak, Jiang Wei's Tomb, and other attractions. 🏝️Food and Drink Guide: 🍚🥗Eat: Mountain and Water Cold Noodles/Seadog Hotpot/Xiao Tang Walnut Cake/Jianmenguan Tofu/Mianyang Rice Noodles/Dong Jiaojiao's Earth Stove Pig's Trotters/Xiulian Hu's Mother's Ice Jelly/Old Brand Feng's Ribs/Huiwaizi Tujia Cuisine (Xinhua Street Store) ☕️Drink: Market Coffee/BOTANIST Plant Scientist/Bitter End 🚗Transportation Guide: G2239 7:40-9:44 Xi'an-Guangyuan G2852 19:41-21:45 Guangyuan-Xi'an 💗Other tips: ⚠️Qianfoya🎫50 ⚠️Fenghuang Tower 5 yuan to climb the tower, the park is open for free ⚠️Zhaohua Ancient City🎫Free, each attraction inside is charged separately ⚠️Jianmenguan remember to recite 'The Difficulty of Shu Road' in advance for free🎫

One-day tour strategy from Xi'an to Guangyuan by high-speed train

The cost of living here is incredibly touching, there isn't a single meal that costs more than a hundred yuan!!! It's super super suitable for students. ·Locals highly recommend YaYa Hotpot: The service attitude of the entire store is extremely good, except for the dog at the door that keeps barking 'wang wang wang', as if it wants the owner's shop to prosper. The taste here is really great, after we ordered, the waiter said we ordered too much, but we were really surprised by the price when it came to paying, because it was only 90 yuan! ·Mingjun Cold Noodles: They are really delicious, similar to the texture of Xi'an rice noodles but with a difference, their unpopular kelp soup is simply amazing, super delicious. ·Jiange Laodi Fang Spicy Skewers: There are a lot of local customers, and it's really so fragrant that it's confusing. The deliciousness is simply indescribable, remember to order a serving of fermented rice dumplings to relieve the spiciness! ·Hu Popo Dipped Fatty Intestine & Pan-fried Tea Blood Curd: Their fatty intestine and blood curd are must-orders! They are incredibly delicious, paired with their pickled cabbage rice, I can finish a whole big bowl in one go, their chili is really too fragrant! ·Qianfo Cliff: The distances between each scenic spot are very close, and it's about 10 yuan by taxi within the city. The entrance fee for Qianfo Cliff is 50 yuan per person, and it takes about 1 hour to visit this attraction! From Xi'an to Guangyuan, take the high-speed train at 8:08 AM, arrive in Guangyuan at 10:17 AM; take the high-speed train at 6:42 PM, and return to Xi'an at 8:54 PM.

Qianfoya Cliff | Sichuan Guangyuan

Qianfoya Cliff carvings are located to the north of Guangyuan city, on the east bank of the Jialing River, along the ancient Shu path of Jinniu. The grottoes were initially carved in the late Northern Wei Dynasty, flourished during the Tang Dynasty, and ceased in the Qing Dynasty. After enduring over the years, they have formed a Buddhist stone carving treasure trove that stretches 388 meters in length, 45 meters in height, with 950 niches and over 7,000 Buddha statues. The niches are stacked in layers, dense like a beehive, making it the most magnificent grotto group in Sichuan.

Guangyuan is the only city in the country with a Daughter's Festival, the birthplace of the empress

Every year on September 1st is Guangyuan's Daughter's Festival. Without having been here, one would never know the high regard in which great figures and Song Qingling hold Wu Zetian. Wu Zetian's true likeness stone carving statue The true likeness stone carving statue of Wu Zetian enshrined in the Zetian Hall is said to be an image of her in her later years, wearing a treasure crown and dressed as a 'Bhikkhuni' (main picture, 4th emoji). Guangyuan is the northernmost city in Sichuan, with many places having extremely dangerous terrain. The difficulty of the Shu Road, as described by the great Tang Dynasty poet Li Bai, says it all. 🎫Ticket: 50💰 for adults, discounts available for students ⏰Opening hours: 8.00-18.00 📍Address: Navigate to 'Huangze Temple Scenic Area' (near Qianfo Cliff and the train station) 🔥【How to enjoy Guangyuan city area?】 Morning: You must try a bowl of cold noodles in the morning, which can only be made with the water from the Jialing River in Guangyuan❗️ Although the word 'cold' is in its name, it is actually served hot. There are many delicious and affordable foods. Afternoon: Route 1⃣ Huangze Temple — Qianfo Cliff: Huangze Temple is the only temple in China dedicated to Empress Wu Zetian. Pray in the temple and feel the charm of the empress. Qianfo Cliff is the largest grotto group in Sichuan Province. Experience the wash of Chinese grotto culture on the cliffside. (You can go to Huangze Temple earlier in the morning and take a bus or drive to Qianfo Cliff in the afternoon) Route 2⃣ Fenghuang Tower (Dongshan Park): Climb Fenghuang Tower to overlook the entire Guangyuan cityscape, enjoy a cup of Ba Ba tea at the tower, and savor the afternoon; or relive childhood joy in the park. Evening Iron Bridge: Check-in for photos Guangyuan Covered Bridge (by the Jialing River): Photo-taking + river breeze + post-dinner walk + river cruise 🔥Attractions around Guangyuan, Jiange: Jianmen Pass/Cuiyun Corridor You can spend an entire day here because you will climb the Shu Road, which is as difficult as ascending to heaven, walk the bird path hanging on the cliffside, and climb the thrilling and exciting Ape Rubbing Path. After a day, your legs will be weak! Here, you can find 365 days of excellent air quality, Ba Ba tea everywhere, and people strolling by the river after meals. The character 'leisure' is evident everywhere. Although the city seems small and leisurely, very suitable for retirement, its touristic nature should not be underestimated.

Qianfo Cliff: A Historical Treasure and Natural Beauty of Sichuan

📍Location: Qianfo Cliff, Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province 🚗Travel: Recommended to drive or take the bus 🈺️Opening Hours: 8:30-17:30 🎫Ticket Price: 💰50 yuan (Winter discount event, with a chance to purchase tickets for 1 yuan) Attraction Introduction: Guangyuan Qianfo Cliff, located on the left bank of the Jialing River, is an important part of the Jianmen Shu Road National Scenic Area. The cliff carvings are distributed along a 420-meter-long cliff, reaching up to 84 meters in height, with the highest niche being 45.5 meters above the ground. There are a total of 13 layers, with more than 950 niches and over 7,900 Buddha statues. These carvings began in the Northern Wei Dynasty and flourished from the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, especially during the Tang Dynasty. During the Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, and Qing periods, the focus was mainly on coloring. It is the largest grotto group in Sichuan and is known as the 'Exhibition Hall of Stone Carving Art through the Ages'. In 1935, due to the construction of the Sichuan-Shaanxi Highway, some carvings were damaged. In 1961, the Qianfo Cliff carvings were listed as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 2012, it was rated as a national 4A-level tourist attraction. Little Knowledge Share: The Tang Dynasty cliff carvings of Guangyuan Qianfo Cliff have the following characteristics: ✅One Buddha, two Bodhisattvas, two disciples: The main shapes are pointed arch and round arch, and the carvings are simple yet exquisite. The Buddha statues often have square or round faces, with a solemn and amiable expression, three neck folds, broad shoulders, and a robust, rounded figure. ✅Clothing and attire: Most wear a kasaya that covers both shoulders. This style of clothing appeared in small quantities during the Tang Dynasty's Zhenguan period, became popular during Empress Wu's reign, and after the Kaiyuan period, it became the only form of Buddha attire. ✅Plump and rounded: The 'open face' of Buddha statues is a characteristic of Buddhist carvings after the prosperous Tang period, with high spiral hair buns and a plump, full face. ✅Artistic techniques: The grotto carvings are mainly high-relief, with some niches using through-carving and hollowing techniques, giving the statues a more three-dimensional feel. When visiting cultural attractions, in addition to taking photos and checking in, it is more important to understand the historical stories behind them, to feel the wisdom of the ancients, and to broaden one's horizons and ways of thinking. The spectacular sight of Qianfo Cliff makes one admire the wisdom of the ancients; after a thousand years of weathering, many carvings have become unrecognizable, and some have even been destroyed, which is deeply moving. Cherish the present, feel the history.

Xi'an Vicinity | Want to get out of the province for the weekend? Arrange it!!

If we're talking about places with great value for money around Xi'an, Guangyuan definitely counts as one, worth visiting time and again‼️ 🗓 Itinerary: 🚄 High-speed train version recommended: Saturday: Morning Xi'an➡️Guangyuan😃2 hours by high-speed train, ticket price 150 Afternoon Qianfoya, Fenghuang Mountain, enjoy hotpot in the evening, yum😋Stay overnight in Guangyuan Sunday: Morning Nanhe Bus Station➡️Zhaohua Ancient City, minibuses depart every hour, 30 minutes trip, ticket price 9 yuan; enjoy Zhaohua's delicious intestines Afternoon return to Guangyuan, end the weekend with a Sichuan cuisine meal 🎬 Evening Guangyuan➡️Xi'an 🚗 Self-driving version recommended: Friday Drive overnight to Guangyuan, about 5 and a half hours, stay overnight in Guangyuan; Saturday Drive about 1 and a half hours to Jinniu Ancient Trail's Lanma Wall, then 1 and a half hours to Zhaohua Ancient City in the afternoon, stay overnight in Zhaohua; Sunday Drive half an hour back to Guangyuan, visit Qianfoya, Fenghuang Mountain, Huangze Temple, schedule according to personal interest and time, have Sichuan cuisine for lunch; then start the journey back to Xi'an; ❤️ A few little tips ❤️ 1️⃣ Self-driving can be tiring, especially the Qinling section, which is quite demanding. It's recommended to have several drivers take turns, but once you arrive in Guangyuan, you can enjoy the freedom 2️⃣ There are many homestays in Zhaohua Ancient City, take a good look at pictures and reviews when choosing. We picked Jiameng Post, which was quite good and convenient; the food in Zhaohua seems similar from place to place, go with what looks good to you, the intestines are a tasty specialty😋 3️⃣ Accommodation in Guangyuan really offers better value for money, it's up to you; we randomly chose a hotpot place and it was great, also had Dong's Stewed Pig's Trotters, delicious👍right at Nanhe Square, all kinds of food, dazzling 4️⃣ Sichuan's rapeseed flowers are blooming, all along the river by Zhaohua Ancient City, so beautiful‼️ 5️⃣ For the high-speed train version, please check the return trip times from Zhaohua Ancient City to Guangyuan in advance, currently, only morning trips from Nanhe Bus Station to the ancient city are visible, can't see the return trips; 6️⃣ Movie ticket prices in Guangyuan might be a bit cheaper, consider watching a couple of movies😏

The 'Mogao Grottoes' on the Shu Road of Jianmen, Sichuan Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliffs

The Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff carvings are located on the east bank of the Jialing River, 4 kilometers north of the old city in Lizhou District, Guangyuan City, Sichuan Province. The carving began in the Northern Wei Dynasty and continued through the Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It has the longest history of excavation in Sichuan, and it is also the largest grotto group in Sichuan Province, known as the 'Exhibition Hall of Stone Carving Art Through the Ages'. The Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff carvings stretch for 388.8 meters, with the cliff top reaching 84 meters high, and the highest niche is 45.5 meters above the ground. The niches are arranged in multiple levels, up to 13 layers, with a total of 54 grottoes, 819 niches, and more than 7,000 statues of various sizes. It covers an area of 7,800 square meters and has a building area of 480 square meters. On March 4, 1961, the Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff carvings were announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 2012, the Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff Stone Carving Art Museum was established as a national 4A-level tourist attraction.

Tibet | A massive cliff face, a masterpiece of Buddha statues by generations of Tibetan sculptors

❤️Recommended reason: I've been to Lhasa several times before I found the Thousand Buddha Cliff, which is the Thousand Buddha Wall on Medicine King Mountain. 🌟Highlights: The Thousand Buddha Cliff is located on the west side of Medicine King Mountain, where the cliff is densely covered with thousands of Buddha statues of various sizes, hence the name 'Thousand Buddha Cliff'. 👍Most recommended: From the Medicine King Mountain viewing platform, turn left along Norbulingka Road into the southern section of Odeji Road, take a turn, and you'll see a massive cliff face, where the exquisite Buddha statues carved by generations of Tibetan sculptors are displayed in a scattered and orderly manner. 👍Most recommended: Legend has it that the Tibetan King Songtsen Gampo once saw the Six Syllable Mantra and Buddha statues and other divine signs in front of this cliff, and later had people build the cliff according to what appeared naturally. After generations of additional carvings, the Thousand Buddha Cliff as we see it today was formed. Despite thousands of years of wind and rain erosion, the stone Buddha statues remain intact.

A two or three day tour of Guangyuan, sisters who need it please collect it🫶

👨‍👩‍👦Guangyuan, formerly known as Lizhou, is located in the north of Sichuan Province, known as the 'Gateway to Northern Sichuan, Throat of Shu Road'. It is the hometown of the empress, the home of pandas, and a health resort : Chengdu to Guangyuan, Thousand Buddha Cliff, Zhaohua Ancient City Depart in the morning, have a makeshift lunch in the highway rest area, arrive at Thousand Buddha Cliff in the afternoon. I remember when I took the train to Xi'an before, I was quite shocked when I saw the Thousand Buddha Cliff on the opposite bank of the Jialing River. This close-up visit is even more worthwhile. I suggest you can hire a guide to learn more about the history and culture behind it. Even on weekdays, the main streets of Zhaohua Ancient City are still very lively, but they all feel the same. It's better to walk in some narrower alleys. We stayed in the ancient city until after 6 o'clock in the evening. When most of the tourists left, the whole ancient city suddenly returned to tranquility from the hustle and bustle. I prefer this atmosphere. : Jianmen Pass We live in Jiange County, and it's only a ten-minute drive to the north gate of the scenic area. Jianmen Pass has many walking routes. After referring to some bloggers' recommendations, I personally think our route basically covers Jianmen Pass. The main sights and features are: North Gate—1st Cableway—Baolong Mountain Viewing Platform—Bird Path (can't go to Yuanmou Path with a 5-year-old child)—Liangshan Pavilion—Shisun Peak—One-line Sky—Leiming Bridge—Pass Tower—South Gate. The most exciting part is of course the Bird Path, climbing up the very steep stone steps, some places even the steps are worn flat, it's really dangerous! I recommend staying in the county's Tianci Hot Spring Hotel or other nearby places. After climbing the mountain for a day, it's just right to soak in the hot spring in the evening and wash away the fatigue. : Cuiyun Corridor Cuiyun Corridor is also part of Jianmen Shu Road. If you are in a hurry, you can arrange it on the same day as Jianmen Pass. But it's quite a test of your foot strengthCuiyun Corridor is characterized by hundreds of years old cypress trees, such as Shuai Da Bo, Jianmen Bo, Mandarin Duck Bo, Huaitai Bo and other strangely shaped cypress trees. The whole forest is very quiet and a bit mysterious, a little p and it has the taste of the magical forest in Harry Potter😀

Qianfo Cliff in Guangyuan

#travelinspiration #sichuan #china #buddha #historicculture #tripaway #trip

The Qianfoya Cliffs are located on the banks of the Jialing River on the edge of Guangyuan City. The ancient and modern cattle trails pass by. There are more than 400 caves left on the cliffs of about 400 meters long. The earliest grottoes were excavated in the Northern Dynasties. Part of it was excavated in the Tang Dynasty. Qianfo Cliff can be compared with the northern caves of the Central Plains in the same period. These caves were mostly excavated by officials from the two Beijing (Chang'an, Luoyang) areas, representing the popular style and artistic level of Buddhist stone carving art in the two Beijing areas.

Guangyuan Qianfo Cliff is the largest group of grottoes in Sichuan. The cliff statues began in the Northern Wei Dynasty. After nearly 1500 years, they were 45 meters high and more than 200 meters long on the cliffs.