Zhangye is more than just the Rainbow Mountains.

🌆 Within Zhangye City lies a thousand-year-old temple, named after the largest indoor reclining Buddha statue in China it houses: the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple.

🌟 Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple, originally known as Kasyapa Buddha Temple, is also called "Reclining Buddha Temple." Built in the first year of the Western Xia Yong'an era (1098), it is a significant historical site on the Silk Road, known as a "famous temple beyond the Great Wall, a Buddhist paradise." The temple houses the largest indoor clay reclining Buddha in China and is a renowned Buddhist temple in Northwest China.

🏠 The Giant Buddha Hall is the central structure of Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple and its grandest hall. Inside, it enshrines Asia's largest indoor wood-framed clay reclining Buddha—the Nirvana statue of Sakyamuni, measuring over 34 meters long. The Buddha's exterior is made of clay and straw, gilded and painted, while the interior is a wooden frame structure divided into five levels. The head contains two hidden chambers, which once stored precious cultural relics such as bronze mirrors and scriptures.

📊 The temple boasts exquisite murals and masterful carvings, showcasing the Buddhist art style of the Western Xia period. Beautiful murals can be seen on the wooden doors of the Giant Buddha Hall and inside the hall.

📖 The temple also houses a large collection of precious Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics, including hand-copied gold scriptures from the Ming Dynasty, holding immense historical and artistic value. These are on display within the temple.

📷 In addition to traditional architecture and Buddha statues, there's a popular photo spot in the backyard, a wall featuring the characters "Zhangye." It's a great place for those who enjoy location-based check-ins.

🅿️ The Giant Buddha Temple has a parking lot, but it requires a detour. If it's not crowded, you can park near the main gate.

Post by Sophia@Simmons92 | Mar 11, 2025