Great Buddha Temple in Xianyang, Xian

Great Buddha Temple in Xianyang, Xian

Great Buddha Temple Facts

Situated in Bin County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, the Giant Buddha Temple Grotto was built in 628 AD and is one of the largest and most beautiful groups of ancient grottos built in early and flourishing periods of the Tang Dynasty. It is also one of the sites of the world heritage site - Silk Road: the road network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor.

Type: Culture & Temples, Buddha Temple

Address: Bin County, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province

Best Seasons: All year around

Recommended Visiting Hours: about 2 hours

Popular Activities: Worship Buddha

Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00

Ticket: 20 CNY

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Why is Great Buddha Temple So Special?

  1. The Giant Buddha Temple Grotto was built in 628 AD and is one of the largest and most beautiful groups of ancient grottos built in early and flourishing periods of the Tang dynasty.
  2.  It is also one of the sites of the world heritage site – Silk Road: the road network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor.

  3. It is famous for its gigantic Amitabha statue and other refined buddha grottos, which are delicate and majestically sculpted and were included in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. It is regarded as the ‘First Wonder in Shaanxi Province’ and a bright pearl on the Silk Road.

Brief Introduction of Great Buddha Temple

Location and Overview

The Great Buddha Temple is located about 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) from the west of Binxian County, and to the south side of Xi’an-Lanzhou Highway (312 National Highway). It is famous for its gigantic Amitabha statue and other refined buddha grottos, which are delicate and majestically sculpted and were included in the World Heritage List on June 22, 2014. It is regarded as the ‘First Wonder in Shaanxi Province’ and a bright pearl on the Silk Road.

Great Buddha Temple is famous for its giant Buddha, 20 meters high. The grottoes stand against the stone mountain with rooms dug out of the rock, statues carved out of the stone, buildings constructed in wood and pavilions high in the air. On the 400-meter-long rock surface are dotted with 130 carves, 446 shrines, 1,980 different sized statues and tens of inscriptions by the past celebrities. The statues are carved with clear lines and elegant shape.

Historical Background

In 628, Tang Emperor Li Shimin asked people to build a temple to celebrate his mother’s 60th birthday, so it was originally called Qingshou Temple (Celebrating Birthday Temple). In fact, the grottoes were built during the Northern Dynasties (386-581) and some Buddhist statues were carved at that time as well. There are 130 grottoes and 1,980 statues, which are divided into the Great Buddha Grotto, Cave of a Thousand Buddhas (Qian Fo Grotto), Buddha Cave (Arhat Cave) and Zhangba Buddha Grotto.

Main Attractions

The Great Buddha Grotto 大佛窟

The Great Buddha Grotto stands in the center of this temple and is the largest cave. A gigantic Amitabha stands in the middle of this grotto, which is 20 meters (65.6 feet) high and whose fingers are two meters (6.56 feet) tall. It is the largest Buddha statue in Shaanxi Province. On either side stand Bodhisattva Dashizhi and Kwan-yin Bodhisattva who are both 17.6 meters (57.7 feet) high. They are called the ‘Three Saints in Paradise’. In addition, many niches in the wall contain about 200 Buddha and Bodhisattva statues of various different sizes.

 The Cave of a Thousand Buddhas 千佛洞

The Cave of a Thousand Buddhas (Qian Fo Grotto) is situated in the east of the Great Buddha Grotto. The main statue is Maitreya with his disciples, Bodhisattvas and Heracles standing besides him. In other niches, most of the statues consist of one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas or one Buddha with two disciples and two Bodhisattvas. The Bodhisattvas complete with graceful poses and flowery clothes look like beautiful dancers. Therefore, they are considered by many visitors to be ‘the Venus’s of the East’. 

Arhat Cave 罗汉洞

Buddha Cave (Arhat Cave) sits on the west side of the Great Buddha Grotto. The principal statue is Sakyamuni and one of its retinues, Wenshu Bodhisattva, who rides on a life-like lion. The lion is finely engraved finely with a bell on its neck and is posed whisking its tail. There are other statues of disciples, Bodhisattvas, Heracles and Vajras.

Zhangba Buddha 丈八佛窟

Zhangba Buddha Grotto (Yingfu Temple) is located about 200 meters (218.7 yards) from the west of the Great Buddha Grotto. Nine small rock caves are scattered on the cliff, containing 108 statues carved in a simple and dignified style. The main statue is Zhangba Buddha which is about seven meters (23 feet) high. The two Bodhisattvas on either side are about six meters (19.7 feet) high.

How to get to Great Buddha Temple

Travel with ChinaDragonTours (top recommended)

If you want to get out of the traffic and hassle of navigation, you can book a private tour package that includes visiting, dining and transfer from us. Our local guide and driver will escort you to the Great Buddha Temple in the fastest and most convenient way and take care of all the details. You just have to focus on the visiting.

Independent Traveler

1. Take the bus from Xi’an, Xianyang or Qian Mausoleum (Qian Ling) to Changwu or Pingliang and get off at the Great Buddha Temple.
2. Take bus to Binxian County, and then transfer a bus to Changwu and get off at the Great Buddha Temple.

Useful Travel Tips

  • Accommodation
    The boutique hotel in Xianyang City is about 150 yuan a night, the average hotel is about 100 yuan a night, the hotel near the airport will be more expensive, one night is around 260 yuan, the following county towns are mostly express hostels.

  • Best Time to Visit
    The area has a warm temperate continental monsoon climate which features a chilly winter and torrid summer. Overcast and rainy days are most frequent in summer and autumn. Extreme heat may sear the city in summer causing high temperature of Xianyang weather in excess of 40C (104F). Visitors can choose any time to visit the place. However, avoiding the height of summer and the middle of winter is recommended.

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