[2024 Zhangye Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhangye Buddha Temple (Updated Sep)

Zhangye 6-day route planning guide, because of one person, fall in love with a city

Zhangye, this city, no one will ask you whether you love it or not, only people will ask you why you love it. The colorful colors, brilliant ethnic groups, inclusive religions, ancient history, galloping horses, young heroes, there are many reasons to fall in love with Zhangye, and it seems that no reason is needed. Zhangye is located in the transition zone from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Inner Mongolia Plateau, and has gathered all the natural landscapes that people can imagine, such as glaciers, snow mountains, forests, grasslands, rivers, lakes, Danxia, wetlands, deserts, Gobi, mountains, and canyons. It can be called a world geomorphological landscape garden. Zhangye was originally a place where ethnic minorities lived. In history, it was a necessary place for the Western Regions to enter the Central Plains. It was also a strategic point for a strong dynasty to achieve unification and strength. Various ethnic groups blend here, and the ethnic culture is brilliant and colorful. As a 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city, Zhangye's history is old enough. The ancient history adds a bit of heaviness to this city. Rich historical relics have also become our carrier to look back at the past. 🚙Transportation The scenic spots in Zhangye are far apart, public transportation is not convenient, it is recommended to drive or charter. 📜Itinerary details D1️⃣: Zhangye Museum➡️Xilai Temple➡️Dafo Temple➡️Muta Temple ✅Zhangye Museum (2h) The first stop is at the Zhangye Museum, overlooking the 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city and entering the important town of the ancient Silk Road. Follow the footsteps of the commentator, step by step into the museum, in the exquisite cultural relics such as bronzes, pottery, coins, porcelain, etc., look back at the 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city, the important town of the ancient Silk Road. ✅Xilai Temple (1h) Feel the incense after the reconstruction in the Xilai Temple, which was built in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. ✅Dafo Temple (2h) Check in the only religious hall of the Western Xia minority in China, the largest indoor reclining Buddha Nirvana statue in China, and the murals of Journey to the West, which are 200 years earlier than the book. ✅Muta Temple (1h) Take a walk outside the Muta Temple in the evening and see the life of the locals outside the ancient building. D2️⃣: Biandukou➡️Binhe Jiuliang ✅Biandukou (3h) Many people rush to Qinghai to see a field of rapeseed flowers, but in Zhangye Biandukou, under the Qilian Mountains, the rapeseed flowers bloom, also blooming the colors of Zhangye. Biandukou has travel photography, hot air balloons and other projects to check in. ✅Binhe Jiuliang (3h) Come to the birthplace of Binhe Jiuliang, in the strong aroma of wine, from the Shen Zhou Qu Workshop to the brewing workshop, from the 10,000-ton wine cellar to the 10,000-acre sorghum raw material base, step by step to trace the roots, go into the past and present of Binhe Jiuliang, and explore this time-brewed Long legend. D3️⃣: Colorful Danxia ✅Colorful Danxia (sunrise and sunset, rest at noon) The colorful Danxia has long become the business card of Zhangye and the dreamland of many good “color” followers at home and abroad. When the colorful Danxia meets the hot air balloon, it is even more romantic in the summer of Zhangye. D4️⃣: Gaotai Site➡️Zhengyi Gorge➡️Camel City Site ✅Gaotai Site (1h) Not far from the Camel City site, history lovers check in, if time is tight, you can ignore it. ✅Zhengyi Gorge (3h) You can see the wild gorge of the Great Wall, desolate and wild. ✅Camel City Site (2h) Must check in, once the ancient capital of Beiliang, the military city of the Tang Dynasty, now only the broken walls remain, stubbornly standing in the desert alkali, desolate and solemn, telling the prosperity of the past with the wind and sand. The ruins are silent and persistent, this stubbornness that spans 1,800 years, makes people tearful. D5⃣️: Sunan Matisi➡️Kangle Grassland➡️Wenshu Temple➡️Sunan County ✅Matisi (3h) Mainly visit Matisi North Temple, Thousand Buddha Cave. Matisi North Temple is the most peculiar, most strictly arranged, and largest grotto in the Matisi Grottoes. Must check in Thirty-three days, Tibetan Buddha Hall. ✅Kangle Grassland (3h) The grassland in summer is close to the sky and not far from the snow mountain, which is very similar to the appearance of the dream far away. Here you can take a large travel photo of the Yugur style. ✅Wenshu Temple (2h) The ancient grotto group under the main peak of Qilian Mountain, for thousands of years, Tibetan Buddhism, Han Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese religious sects have intersected and integrated here. D6️⃣: Yanzhi Mountain➡️Shandan Horse Farm ✅Yanzhi Mountain (3h) Shandan Yanzhi Mountain, the waist of the Hexi Corridor, the throat of the Ganliang Ancient Road, has always been a must for the military. Huo Qubing defeated the Huns here, laying the foundation for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to "expand the Western Regions and open up the Silk Road". Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty held a "World Expo" here, which became the prototype of the modern World Expo. ✅Shandan Horse Farm (3h) Must check in, although the distance is relatively far, but it is currently the largest and oldest horse farm in the world.

Zhangye’s Buddhist Temple

If in Zhangye, I’m sure you’re here for the Mati temple, the Grand Canyon, and the Rainbow mountain but this place is also nice. If you have a bit of time (all you need is about one hour), go and visit the Big Buddha Temple! How to get there - During my time in Zhangye, I had a private driver. There’s most likely a bus that could drop you off near the temple but taking a DiDi is always convenient. Attraction - There are a few temples and some beautiful flowers. Have a nice little stroll and enjoy the beauty of this scenic spot. 😊 Cost - If I remember correctly, the ticket was about 40-50¥. #zhangye #gansu #temple #urbanexplorer #summervacation #thisischina

The #dafotemple 大佛寺 is an ancient Buddhist temple in #silkroad #zhangye, Gansu, China, notable for its gigantic reclining Buddha statue made around 1100 during the Western Xia and Song dynasty, which is thirty-five metres long. #temple #unforgetabletrip #happynewyear

The largest reclining Buddha in China.

Walking through the ancient halls of Zhangye's Giant Buddha Temple, the weight of history seems to transcend time and space. The royal style and the beauty of tranquility complement each other, and the reclining Buddha lies there peacefully, like a wise man, quietly telling a thousand-year-old legendary story. Standing here, the hustle and bustle of the world seems to be far away, and the soul has gained unprecedented tranquility in the solemn atmosphere. Although life is always busy, the tranquility and solemnity at this moment make me cherish it even more, as if I have found the home of my heart. 📍Gansu·Zhangye·Giant Buddha Temple

Giant Buddha Temple, Xilai Temple, Muta Temple, and delicious food.

Giant Buddha Temple is located in the center of Zhangye Old Town. As one of the most iconic buildings in the city, it is the only surviving national temple of the Western Xia Dynasty and boasts the largest indoor reclining Buddha in Asia! However, it is not isolated, but adjacent to residential areas, where it has been accompanied by the strong atmosphere of life for centuries, calmly walking from history to the future. Giant Buddha Temple was built in 1098 during the Yong'an reign of Emperor Chongzong of the Western Xia Dynasty. Originally named Kasyapa Tathagata Temple, it was also known as "Reclining Buddha Temple" because it housed a statue of the Buddha in nirvana. It is said that the national master of the Western Xia Dynasty, Wei Mei, heard the sound of silk and bamboo instruments while meditating. He dug three feet into the ground following the sound and found a reclining Buddha covered with green tiles. A temple was built to commemorate this event. Although it is a temple, it is more like a Buddhist art museum with architecture, sculptures, murals, carvings, scriptures, paintings, and cultural relics. The couplet at the entrance reads: "The reclining Buddha sleeps for a thousand years and never wakes up. The questioner asks for a hundred generations and never understands." It is full of Zen and explains life. In the 1970s, Chinese archaeologists discovered five silver coins under the temple base of Giant Buddha Temple. These silver coins came from the Sassanid Dynasty of Persia and have become important evidence of ancient trade and economic exchanges between China and the West. Zhangye also has a large Muslim population, and Muslim culture has become part of the city through long-term integration. For example, the Nanguan Mosque on Renmin South Street is a typical Muslim building. As an important hub on the Silk Road, cultures from different countries and ethnicities collided and integrated in Zhangye, forming a unique multicultural landscape. In addition to architecture, the most direct form of expression is food. Zhangye's food is unforgettable, including niangpi (wheat jelly), saozi noodles, freshly made yogurt, braised meat with fried cannon, stir-fried bolapula (a type of noodle), fish noodle, beef rice, steamed bread, bean curd skin, chicken roll, and fish roe. For food lovers, this is definitely a place to satisfy your stomach! In front of food, everyone is an ordinary diner. Whenever the stove is lit, the unique and familiar taste of Zhangye allows everyone's stomach to enjoy a feast, and gives local people a more complete sense of identity. In Zhangye, every diner's happiness can come from a bowl of fish roe or a bowl of stir-fried bolapula. The following foods are: fish roe, freshly made yogurt, braised meat with fried cannon

Zhangye 3 Days 2 Nights Ultimate Guide, Can't Get More Detailed

✨Dear friends, today I'm going to share with you the ultimate guide for a 3-day 2-night trip to Zhangye, making it easy for you to explore Zhangye. 📌Itinerary: 🎈Day: Kangle Grassland + Colorful Danxia 10:30 Arrive in Zhangye, the driver will warmly pick you up, then head to Kangle Grassland. 12:00 Enjoy lunch at a local farm in the scenic area, then drive into the grassland to experience the boundless grassland scenery. 17:00 Start the return journey, then head to Colorful Danxia, buy tickets at the north gate, the dazzling colors are truly amazing. 20:40 Return to the city for dinner. 🎈Day: Giant Buddha Temple + Mati Temple + Jinta Temple + Ming and Qing Street 8:00 Visit the Giant Buddha Temple, feel the tranquility and historical depth. 11:00 Lunch in the city, then take a car to Mati Temple. 13:00 Arrive at Mati Temple, buy tickets on-site, and experience the strong religious atmosphere. 17:00 Drive to Jinta Temple, the scenery along the way is breathtaking. 20:00 Return to the city and treat yourself to a hot pot dinner. 21:30 Continue to Ming and Qing Street for more eating and shopping, the fun never stops. 🎈Day: Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon 8:00 Take a car to start the adventure. 9:30 Buy tickets on-site, feel the wonders of nature. 14:00 Return to the city for lunch, remember to have a hearty breakfast. 18:00 Take the train home, ending the wonderful journey. 💰Costs: 🎈Day: Car rental for four people 360, lunch for five people 260, Kangle ticket 30/person, horse riding 50/person, Danxia ticket 92/person, dinner 30/person. 🎈Day: Giant Buddha Temple 38/person, lunch for four people 150, car rental for four people 400, Mati Temple ticket 74/person, dinner for four people 350. 🎈Day: Car rental for four people 230, Grand Canyon deep tour 318/person, archery experience 10, lunch for four people 170. 🎈Accommodation for four people, two rooms for two nights 560, other expenses for water, snacks, small gifts about 100/person. 🎈Total 1300/person, quite cost-effective. 💖Feelings: 🎈Kangle Grassland: Definitely a summer resort, full of ethnic characteristics, and few people, you can fully enjoy the tranquility of the grassland. 🎈Colorful Danxia: The rich colors are stunning, but it's a bit sunny and crowded. 🎈Giant Buddha Temple: Although small, it has a huge Buddha statue, you need some knowledge to better appreciate its charm, few people and very quiet. 🎈Mati Temple: You can feel the power of faith, the experience is great, but you might need to queue for a while. 🎈Jinta Temple along the way: Full of unknowns, the beauty of nature is intoxicating, also a good place to escape the heat, few people and beautiful scenery. 🎈Ming and Qing Street: Lots of delicious food, fun things, and good buys. 🎈Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon: Full of natural atmosphere, feels adventurous, quite physically demanding, but few people, you can play to your heart's content. 💕In short, Zhangye is really a great place, I hope this guide can help you, start your Zhangye journey now!😉

【Zhangye Exploration】5-day In-depth Tour, Discover a Different Northwestern Charm!

Zhangye gave me so many surprises! A 5-day stay, with each day being a brand new experience. 🏮Day 1: The shock of the Giant Buddha Temple, the weight of history made me feel like I traveled through a thousand years in an instant. At Zhangye Museum, even a cursory glance can make you feel the cultural accumulation. 🌈Day 2: The Rainbow Mountains, the business card of Zhangye. We left our footprints at every viewing platform. At sunset, although the crowds were overwhelming, the beautiful scenery was worth all the waiting. 🏞️Day 3: Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, hiking the big loop, experiencing a different sense of natural participation. The tranquility at the bottom of the valley made me feel both excited and awed. 🐎Day 4: Mati Temple and Jinta Temple, we rented a car to enjoy different sceneries. The ingenuity of the Thirty-three Heavens, the utopia of Jinta Temple, every place is a blend of art and history. 🌄Day 5: Biandukou and Zhuo'er Mountain, although the weather was not good, the misty beauty of the clouds made me feel refreshed.

Zhangye Tuta hides a Ming Dynasty relic, the Trumpet Tower, in the bustling city

Zhangye Tuta hides a Ming Dynasty relic, the Trumpet Tower, in the bustling city. 👍Highly recommended: 🌟Highlights: Zhangye Tuta is located on the east side of the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye City, Gansu Province. Originally named Amitabha Thousand Buddha Pagoda, it is a mixed brick and adobe structure with a whitewashed exterior. The brick and earth structure stands 32.5 meters high and is a Tibetan Buddhist stupa. A distinctive feature is the construction of a small tower at each corner of the first and second tier bases. In 1927, the top of the tower was destroyed by an earthquake in Zhangye, and in 1986, the Zhangye cultural department restored it to its original state. The current tower is a relic from the Ming Dynasty. The Yiquan Tower consists of three parts: the base, the body, and the finial. It tapers upwards in thirteen sections, with a canopy diameter of over four meters, decorated with thirty-six copper tiles and thirty-six tassel wind chimes, bearing some resemblance to the White Pagoda in Beijing. The most unique aspect of the Tuta is the eight small lama towers on the two-tiered Sumeru base. These eight small towers are similar in shape to the main tower, surrounding it like stars around the moon. This gives the Zhangye Tuta the characteristics of a Vajra Throne Tower, but it differs from the common Vajra Throne Tower with one main tower and four small towers, representing a variant form of the Vajra Throne Tower. Those who love ancient architecture and traditional Chinese cultural history should not miss the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye. Travel Guide Address: No. 28, Minzhu West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province Navigation: Giant Buddha Temple, Zhangye Time: 8:00-18:30 Tickets: 40 yuan Transportation: Take bus lines 1, 11, or 13 to the Giant Buddha Temple Cultural Square

Guide to the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye, Gansu

On a sunny early summer day, I arrived in Zhangye and am sharing what I have seen and heard in the city. I have already shared a guide to the Zhangye City Museum, which is a museum with very distinctive local features. Not far away is the millennium-old Giant Buddha Temple of Zhangye, how could I miss it? The Giant Buddha Temple, originally named Jia Ye Ru Lai Temple, is located in the Democratic West Street, Giant Buddha Temple Lane, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province. It was built in the first year of Yong'an of the Western Xia Dynasty (1098). The temple is also known as the 'Reclining Buddha Temple' because it houses the Nirvana statue of Sakyamuni. It was a temple built by imperial decree through the dynasties. It is also an important historical and cultural site on the Silk Road and a landmark building of the historical and cultural city of Zhangye. The temple houses the largest Western Xia Buddhist hall in the country - the Giant Buddha Hall, the largest indoor clay sculpture of a reclining Buddha, and the most complete first edition of the 'Yongle Northern Canon'. It is a Buddhist art museum that integrates architecture, sculpture, murals, carvings, scriptures, and cultural relics. The Giant Buddha Temple complex includes an archway-style mountain gate, the Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Guan Shrine Hall, the Passing Hall, the Companion Hall, the side rooms, and the main hall of the Reclining Buddha. To the south of the main hall is the Responsive Temple, to the north is the Golden Pagoda Hall, and to the rear are the Golden Repository and the Earth Pagoda. As a royal family temple through the dynasties, the Giant Buddha Temple has a close relationship with the royal families of the Western Xia, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and features a typical palace architectural style. The temple complex is arranged along a central axis running east to west, with symmetrical side halls on both sides. The entire group of buildings is unique in shape, strict in layout, prominent in theme, and clear in tone. The main building, the Giant Buddha Hall, is an outstanding representative of Western Xia architectural art. The hall is composed of two-story pavilions, with a neat and standard plane structure and a multi-faceted spatial combination, giving a sense of both natural elegance and solemn depth, both clear and distinct yet hazy and ethereal, reflecting the imperial majesty of 'supreme honor'. Inside the Giant Buddha Temple, there are Buddhist art exhibition halls and Buddhist scripture exhibition halls. The historical and artistic value it carries is a vivid history book for studying the history and culture of Zhangye, religious culture, and the integration of multiple ethnicities. It is a Buddhist art museum that integrates architecture, sculpture, murals, carvings, scriptures, and cultural relics.

Today, let's take a look at the Western Xia Kingdom Temple - the Great Buddha Temple.

Founded in the Western Xia period and built before the Ming Dynasty, it has been repaired and maintained for hundreds of years. It looks awake when viewed, but sleeps when called. Only by traveling through the three thousand worlds can one realize that this dream is true emptiness. The Zhangye Great Buddha Temple is located in the southwest corner of Zhangye City. It was originally named "Kashyapa Tathagata" Temple. In the first year of Yong'an during the reign of Emperor Chongzong of Western Xia, which is 1098 AD, a national teacher named Weimie was meditating one day when he suddenly heard the sound of silk and bamboo from the sky. Following the sound, he dug more than a zhang deep and found a jade reclining Buddha covered with golden bricks and green tiles. He reported this to the Western Xia ruler Li Qianshun, who then ordered the construction of the "Reclining Buddha Temple". The coffin of Empress Dowager Bieji, the mother of Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, was once placed here, and a temple was built for worship, called the "Cross Temple". In the ninth year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1411), it was granted the name "Hongren Temple". In the second year of Xuande (1427), it was granted the name "Baojue Temple". During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed "Hongren Temple". Because the temple houses a 34.5-meter-long, 7.5-meter-wide clay sculpture of the reclining Buddha Shakyamuni, it is commonly known as the "Reclining Buddha Temple" or "Great Buddha Temple". Here, you can find the largest surviving Western Xia Buddhist hall in China, the world's largest indoor wooden clay sculpture of a reclining Buddha, the rare Ming Dynasty handwritten golden scripture "Great Prajna Sutra", the most complete preserved Ming Dynasty official edition of the "Northern Canon", and tens of thousands of exquisite cultural relics. From the Western Xia to the Yuan Dynasty, this place was always a royal temple. In the early Ming Dynasty, the court attached great importance to the reconstruction and maintenance of the Reclining Buddha Temple, making it unprecedentedly large. After the delegation of King Shah Rukh of the Timurid Empire visited China in 1420, the Persian painter Gaiyasuddin Nahsh wrote in his "Record of Shah Rukh's Mission to China" that the Reclining Buddha Temple at that time was 500 meters from east to west and north to south, showing the grandeur and prosperity of the temple. The overall architecture of the Great Buddha Temple has the characteristics of palace-style official buildings. The main buildings are aligned along an east-west central axis, with symmetrical side halls and other structures. The main hall, which houses the reclining Buddha, is the central and most prominent building. The hall is rectangular in plan, with two floors, double eaves, and a hip-and-gable roof covered with green tiles, surrounded by wooden corridors. The doors and windows are carved with auspicious flowers, Buddhist mantras, stories from Buddhist scriptures, or famous paintings and calligraphy. Dozens of couplets and plaques from the Ming and Qing dynasties blend harmoniously with the overall architecture. The hall is 20.20 meters high, with nine bays from north to south and seven bays from east to west, reflecting the royal concept of "supreme power". "Founded in the Western Xia period and built before the Ming Dynasty, it has been repaired and maintained for hundreds of years. It looks awake when viewed, but sleeps when called. Only by traveling through the three thousand worlds can one realize that this dream is true emptiness." Upon entering the hall, the 34.5-meter-long reclining Buddha Shakyamuni immediately catches the eye. The reclining Buddha lies with its head to the north and feet to the south, facing west, and rests on a 1.2-meter-high lotus pedestal in the center of the hall. The statue is gilded and painted, with a gold-plated face, a lotus pillow under its head, half-closed eyes, and slightly open lips. The right hand is extended under the face, and the left hand is stretched out beside the body, with a plump and dignified appearance, and a serene and peaceful posture. The chest is adorned with a large "卐" symbol, which in Sanskrit means "auspicious sea cloud". ⛺【Must-visit local spot】: Those who love ancient architecture and traditional Chinese culture should definitely visit. It's very convenient in the city. 🛬【Travel Guide】: Zhangye Great Buddha Temple Address: No. 28 Minzhu West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province Opening hours: 08:00-18:30 Ticket price: 40 yuan Visiting time: 1-3 hours Transportation: Take bus 1, 11, or 13 to the Great Buddha Temple Cultural Square 🏨【Accommodation Guide】: There are many hotels around, choose according to your preference 🧡【Tips】: Zhangye city is not very large. The Zhangye Museum is right opposite the Great Buddha Temple, and the Xilai Temple is next to it. You can spend a day on a self-guided tour. Nearby, you can also visit Ganzhou Alley for some local specialties. @Community Welfare Jun @Ctrip Community Creation Center

The third stop in Zhangye, Gansu — Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple

Living near the Bell Tower in Zhangye city, you can take bus No. 1 to the Giant Buddha Temple (there is no bus stop sign; only when you see a bus stopping do you know where to wait), but we chose to walk there. The full ticket is 40 yuan, with a 50% discount for those above 60 years old. The ticket office is not located at the main entrance; we had to ask around before finding the window to purchase tickets. The Giant Buddha Temple, locally known as the 'Reclining Buddha Temple,' houses the largest Western Xia Buddhist structure, the Giant Buddha Hall, the largest indoor clay sculpture of a reclining Buddha in Asia, and the most complete first edition of the 'Great Ming Tripitaka North Collection' in China, with over 10,000 precious cultural relics. Covering an area of over 30,000 square meters, the Giant Buddha Temple is the largest and best-preserved royal temple of the Western Xia dynasty and a symbolic architectural monastery of the historic and cultural city 'Golden Zhangye.' In the 16th century, the temple could accommodate four to five thousand people for worship at the same time. The existing buildings include the Giant Buddha Hall, the Sutra Pavilion, and the Earth Pagoda. The Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple has a close relationship with the Western Xia and Yuan royal families. Historical records show that the Empress Dowager of the Western Xia often came to the temple for worship and residence. Legend has it that this place was the birthplace of Kublai Khan, the Great Khan of the Yuan dynasty. His mother, Empress Dowager Chabi, also lived here for a long time, and her coffin was once placed in the temple. At the end of the Southern Song dynasty, Emperor Gong of Song, Zhao Xian, was captured and became a monk here to avoid disaster. The Italian traveler Marco Polo was attracted by the grand architecture of the Giant Buddha Temple and the prosperity of Zhangye, and he stayed for a year. Whether history or legend, perhaps only the reclining Buddha in the temple and the couplet above the door know: The reclining Buddha has been sleeping for a thousand years, forever asleep without waking; The inquirer always asks, through the ages, forever asking without understanding.

The scenic beauty of the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye

The Giant Buddha Temple is a landmark building of the historical and cultural city of Zhangye, known as the 'Famous Monastery on the Frontier, a Holy Land of Buddhism'. Inside the temple, there is the largest Western Xia Buddhist hall in China, the Giant Buddha Hall, the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha in Asia, and the most complete first edition of the 'Great Ming Tripitaka, Northern Canon' in the country, with a collection of over 10,000 precious cultural relics. In 1995, it became a patriotic education base in Gansu Province, in 1996 it was listed as the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units, and in 2018 it was selected as one of the 'Magical Northwest Top 100 Scenic Spots'.

Traversing the Hexi Corridor: A journey to experience the vicissitudes and splendor of a millennium

Stepping onto this ancient land, I followed the Hexi Corridor section of the Silk Road carved out by Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, traveling eastward from Dunhuang, through Guazhou and Jiayuguan, and finally arriving at Zhangye. The scenery along the way was like a series of flowing paintings, utterly intoxicating. 🏺🎨 At the Mogao Caves, I witnessed the grottoes that have weathered over a thousand years. From the 4th century (Sixteen Kingdoms period) to the 14th century (Yuan Dynasty), this place has witnessed the hard work of countless artists. During the Tang Dynasty, the Mogao Caves reached their peak in both scale and artistic achievement, which is breathtaking. 🏰🔔 Jiayuguan, as the westernmost pass of the Great Wall, was founded in the fifth year of Hongwu of the Ming Dynasty (1372). It consists of an inner city, outer city, barbican, Wengcheng (defensive towers), moat, and the Great Wall sections extending to the north and south, with a total length of about 60 kilometers. In May 1880 (the 6th year of Guangxu in the Qing Dynasty), the famous Qing official Zuo Zongtang left Jiayuguan with his coffin to reclaim Xinjiang, a journey that took three years and became a legendary story. When he returned to Jiayuguan, he personally inscribed 'The First and Greatest Pass under Heaven', highlighting the importance of this pass. 🏯🕉️ The Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye, founded in the first year of Yong'an of Chongzong of the Western Xia (1098), is a landmark of Jin Zhangye and was a royal temple of the Western Xia. Inside the temple is an enshrined reclining Buddha statue of Sakyamuni, also known as the 'Sleeping Buddha Temple'. It is the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China, measuring 34.5 meters in length, which is awe-inspiring. 📸📝 During this trip, I deeply felt the historical significance and cultural heritage of the Hexi Corridor. Each site is a testament to history, and every landscape tells the story of the wisdom and courage of ancient people. If you are also interested in this history, why not come and experience the millennia of vicissitudes and splendor for yourself.

Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple, here I come!

Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple, a national 4A-level tourist attraction, is located at No. 28 Democracy West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, covering an area of about 23,000 square meters. It faces east and west, and only the Giant Buddha Hall, the Scripture Tower, and the Earth Pagoda on the central axis remain. The temple houses the largest Xixia Buddhist hall in the country, the Giant Buddha Hall, the largest indoor wooden clay reclining Buddha in Asia, and the first engraved and printed version of the 'Daming Sanzang Holy Teachings Beizang' and other precious cultural relics. The scenic spots open to the public include the Giant Buddha Temple built in the Western Xia Dynasty, the Amitabha Thousand Buddha Pagoda of the Ming Dynasty, the Bell and Drum Tower, and the famous Qing Dynasty Shanxi Guild Hall in the northwest. In 1995, Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple became a patriotic education base in Gansu Province; in 1996, it was listed as the fourth batch of national key cultural relics protection units; in 2018, it was selected as the 'Magical Northwest 100 Scenic Spots' list.

A Solo Trip to Hexi Corridor - Zhangye Chapter

During this trip to the Hexi Corridor, apart from Dunhuang, what I looked forward to the most was Zhangye. As it turned out, Zhangye really is an underestimated travel city. I chose different tourist routes in the three days I spent in Zhangye, leaning towards natural scenery, and left with very good memories. Day1: Giant Buddha Temple - Zhangye Museum - Half-day tour of Rainbow Danxia : It has the largest clay reclining Buddha in the country. It's quite shocking to see it up close. The temple architecture of the Giant Buddha Temple is also worth a careful look, with beautifully carved beams and painted rafters. : Generally speaking, it's recommended to go in the summer. The colors of the Danxia are not very obvious in winter. Viewing platforms 2 and 4 are the best. Day2: Matisi Temple and Jinta Temple day tour I highly recommend everyone to go. You can see the Qilian Snow Mountain. mainly climbed the Thirty-three Days Grottoes; was not open before, so those who like grotto culture must come. It has a high-relief Feitian that is 300 years earlier than Mogao Grottoes, and the guide's explanation is very interesting. Day3: Half-day tour of Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon : People with stamina must go! I chose the ordinary tour. The route is Viewing Platform 1 - Viewing Platform 2 - Viewing Platform 3 - Grand Canyon Entrance Hiking - Enter One Line Sky (but did not climb, watch and return the same way) - Lingzhi Valley - Viewing Platform 4. The geological features at the bottom of the Grand Canyon are particularly spectacular, like a flat version of the Colorado Grand Canyon. About accommodation: I stayed at the Silk Road Traveler Youth Hostel this time, and the experience was super good. The boss lady is very, very enthusiastic. She even makes breakfast for us who are in the group in the morning. I have never recommended where I stayed before, but the accommodation in Zhangye is really surprising, and you can directly join the group in the youth hostel, which is very convenient. About food: : Stir-fry restaurant, if you've had enough of Northwestern beef and mutton, come here to revisit the taste of stir-fry, the price is not expensive. : A relatively famous local specialty restaurant. : Zhangye's unique breakfast, the small bowl for seven yuan has a lot of beef. : There are many local snacks gathered here, not the stereotyped snack street type, you can taste Gansu spicy hot pot, roll chicken, apricot skin tea, milk rice wine skewers and so on. I have eaten dinner here several times.

Hexi Corridor D8: Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple

This should be one of the most anticipated places in the Hexi trip! On the eighth day, I finally arrived at the long-awaited Giant Buddha Temple! The Giant Buddha Temple was built during the Western Xia period and has a history of nearly a thousand years. The Giant Buddha Hall is the largest Western Xia Buddha Hall preserved in the country, and inside is the largest Sakyamuni Nirvana reclining Buddha statue in the country. The reclining Buddha statue is 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide at the shoulders. A person can lie down on a finger. When you step into the temple door, you can't see the end on the left and right. You have to walk to the left clockwise around the Buddha to see the whole picture. The eyes of the reclining Buddha seen by people standing in front of the Buddha's abdomen, shoulders, and forehead are different. The Buddha's two feet are together and are taller than a person. Standing next to every place is shocking, and I can't bear to leave after going around three or five times. Among the people who go around the Buddha, there are many Tibetans. When they reach the position of the foot, they all hold the glass cabinet with their hands and put their foreheads on the position of the foot to show their respect. When I turned to the fourth week, I also met several Japanese old people who were helping each other. They were also constantly making surprised praises, sometimes looking up and sometimes bowing in worship, slowly walking around the Buddha. This reclining Buddha is a mud statue with a fetus, and there is a huge hollow skeleton inside. There are wooden ladders up and down connected, and many Buddhist cultural relics have been found in the body. The guide pointed to the front of the Buddha's robe, where there were traces of man-made destruction during a special period in history, which has now been repaired, but the color is different from the surroundings. People regret it, but more fortunately, the reclining Buddha statue has not been completely destroyed. In the Tibetan Scripture Hall behind, many scriptures and cultural relics unearthed in the Giant Buddha Temple are displayed, including the treasures of the town hall, the single copy of the Northern Tibetan Buddhist scriptures and the Prajna Golden Sutra. In a corner of the temple is the old site of the Shanxi Guild Hall, with the Zhongyi Guandi Temple and the theater building, which attracted people around to discuss: It is surprising that a corner can be drawn in such a solemn and magnificent temple as a guild hall to listen to the opera, which shows the power and influence of the business association at that time. Life satisfaction +1

The Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple houses a giant

reclining Buddha. There are many Giant Buddha Temples nationwide, right? But not many of them enshrine a giant reclining Buddha, right? The reclining Buddha inside the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is more than 34 meters long, over 7 meters wide, nearly 8 meters high, and 4 meters long at the foot. It is made of wood and mud, gilded and painted, and is the largest indoor reclining Buddha in existence in the country. The interior of the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is similar to most temples built during the Western Xia Dynasty, but it is mainly this reclining Buddha that attracts attention. Of course, there is a related museum inside, where you can see many cultural relics and some ancient architecture that you can't see in other temples. I even saw a flying Apsara inside😲. 📝Note tips: - Never ever doodle around, really, you must travel civilly. - The 🚾 near the Giant Buddha Temple is not easy to find, but there is a 🚾 inside the Giant Buddha Temple, which is quite good. To see the reclining Buddha, come to the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple, that's right.

The largest reclining Buddha in China

The Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple was first built in the first year of Yong'an of the Western Xia Dynasty (1098), originally named "Jaye Tathagata Temple", Ming Xuande bestowed "Baojue Temple", and Qing Kangxi bestowed "Hongren Temple". Because the temple enshrines the Nirvana image of Sakyamuni, it is commonly known as "Giant Buddha Temple". The Giant Buddha Temple covers an area of more than 60,000 square meters. It is the largest and best-preserved royal temple of the Western Xia Dynasty in China. It is also the iconic building of the historic and cultural city "Golden Zhangye", and is now a national key cultural relics protection unit, a national key protection unit for ancient books, and a national 4A level tourist attraction. The temple preserves the largest Buddhist building of the Western Xia Dynasty in China, the largest indoor wooden clay reclining Buddha in Asia, and the most complete first engraved and first printed version of the "Daming Sanzang Shengjiao Zang" in China, with a collection of more than 10,000 precious cultural relics. The Giant Buddha Temple, as an outstanding representative of China's historical and cultural heritage, embodies the hard work and wisdom of the ancestors of Zhangye. The scientific, historical, and artistic values it carries are the vivid history books for studying the history and culture of the Western Xia Dynasty and the integration of multiple ethnic groups in Zhangye.

When you are entering the temple the first thing is coming to your mind is this is one of thousands regular temples scattered everywhere in China. But, this is not true. The Giant Lying Buddha stature is making deep impression. The peaceful colossus is sleeping and dreaming... Another one artifact deserving the stead attention is Buddha bones. Well, it is say that those particles left after cremation are Buddha bones (photo is attached). The temple still playing the major role in keeping religious legacy in region. Should be included in travel list. Especially, the temple is located in city center #tripaway#triplocal

Speaking of Zhang Wei, everyone should think of the colorful Danxia scenic spot. In fact, this city also has a must-see attraction, that is, the Big Buddha Temple. Located in the center of the city, the Zhangye Big Buddha Temple was built in the first year of Yongan in the Western Xia Dynasty. It has a history of nearly a thousand years. After the changes in the Western Region, the temple is famous both at home and abroad for its huge reclining Buddha statue in the main hall. The reclining Buddha in the main hall is 34.5 meters long and is the largest indoor reclining Buddha statue in China. Reclining Buddha is made up of earthen skeletal structure covered with mud, grass and other materials. The interior is hollow and once contained a lot of treasures. It was severely stolen and damaged in the 1970s. Unlike the temples that have been renovated in different places, the main hall of the Zhangye Big Buddha Temple implements the idea of repairing the old as the old. While protecting the building, it tries not to change the traces left by history on the surface of the building, so that visitors can Experience the long years behind it. Behind the Big Buddha is a statue of a Tibetan Bodhisattva, with beautiful murals behind it, depicting some stories related to Journey to the West. The tallest building in the temple is a stupa behind the main hall. Its original name is the Amitabha Thousand Buddha Pagoda. It is a brick-and-mortar mixed-tower tower. The wooden door of the phoenix is painted outside the hall. Although it has been weather-beaten, it still makes people feel the skill of the artist. superb. Every holiday, the citizens who come to the temple to burn incense and pray are endless. Around the ancient temples under the aerial lens, countless new buildings have risen from the ground, and Zhang Yizheng on the Silk Road has regained its brilliance due to the Belt and Road.

The Great Buddha Temple was built in the first year of Yongan in the Western Xia Dynasty (1098), formerly known as Jiaye Rulai Temple. There is the largest indoor reclining Buddha in the country. I was shocked when I saw the main building of the Big Buddha Temple. This house should be a monument, the color of the carved beams on it has already receded, and it seems a little simple. I am sorry that such a temple must have been well protected in the eastern region. I took some details of the house, because the old things after the years are the most beautiful, with the age of imprints and portrayals have a taste. is a bit like the Baita of Tibetan Buddhism, but this is not Tibetan Buddhism. It is Mahayana Buddhism, so this is not the Tibetan White Tower.

The Big Buddha Temple is one of the most famous tourist attractions in downtown Zhangye. Because it is conveniently located in the city center, there are many tourists. The temple is famous for having one of the largest indoor reclining Buddhas in the country. was built in the first year of Yongan (1098) in Xixia. It has a history of more than 900 years. The Big Buddha Temple is the national temple of Xixia. It is one of the four remaining royal monasteries in the country. It is also the only religious temple in the Xixia minority in the country. According to records, the Xixia Empress of Buddhism often lives in the Big Buddha Temple. It is also said that the Queen Mother of Beji, Mongolia, lived in the Great Buddha Temple and gave birth to the founding monarch of the Great Yuan Empire - Kublai Khan. These rumors are not seen, they are true or false, and they are still mystery. Yuan, the Italian traveler Marco Polo came to Zhang Wei, and was sighed by the exquisite architecture of the Great Buddha Temple and the prosperity of Zhangye. He stayed for a year. The Big Buddha Temple now only has buildings such as the Great Buddha Hall, the Tibetan Classical Pavilion, and the Earthen Tower on the central axis. The Buddha in the Great Buddha Hall is 34.5 meters long, shoulder width 7.5 meters, ears about 4 meters, and feet 5.2 meters long. A middle finger of the Buddha can lay a person flat, and eight people can sit side by side in the ear. In 1966, stone monuments, bronze Buddhas, bronze mirrors, copper pots, Buddhist scriptures, etc. were found in the belly of Reclining Buddha. The overall layout and style of the statues and murals in the hall of the Great Buddha Hall and the temple have maintained the original appearance of Xixia. There are 31 painted clay sculptures in the temple, which are the relics of Xixia.

The Great Buddha Temple was built in the first year of Yongan in the Western Xia Dynasty (1098). It was originally known as Jiaye Rulai Temple, Ming Yongle nine years (1411), the famous Baojue Temple, and the Qing Emperor Kangxi seventeen years (1678) falsified Hongren Temple. The huge reclining Buddha statue is named the Big Buddha Temple, also known as the Sleeping Buddha Temple. The Dafo Temple covers an area of about 23,000 square meters. It sits east to the west and now houses only the Great Buddha Hall, the Tibetan Classical Pavilion, and the Earthen Tower on the central axis. The Great Buddha Temple is nine (48.3 meters) wide, seven deep (24.5 meters) deep, 20.2 meters high, and two floors, resting on the top of the mountain. There are 31 painted clay sculptures in the temple, which are the relics of Xixia. Among them, the reclining Buddha is 34.5 meters long and is the largest indoor reclining Buddha statue in China. After the reclining Buddha, there are dozens of disciples, and there are statues of Yu Po Yi, You Po Sai and 18 Lohan. The Zangjing Pavilion is 21.3 meters wide and 10.5 meters deep. Formerly known as the Amitabha Thousand Buddha Pagoda, the Tuta is a brick-and-mortar mixed-top tower with a height of 33.37 meters. The temple houses the largest indoor reclining Buddha in the country, which is the Nirvana image of Buddha Sakyamuni. He sleeps peacefully above the 1.2-meter-high Buddhist altar in the main hall. The Buddha is 34.5 meters long, shoulders 7.5 meters wide, ears about 4 meters long and 5.2 meters long. A middle finger of the Buddha can lay a person flat, and eight people can sit side by side in the ear, showing how huge the statue is.