Zhangye Dafo Temple (Great Buddha Temple) is a famous historic Buddhist temple located in Ganzhou District, Zhangye, Gansu Province, China.
Basics
Founded: 1098 AD (Western Xia Dynasty)
Other names: Kasyapa Buddha Temple, Hongren Temple
Status: National Key Cultural Relic Protection Unit (1996), National 4A Tourist Attraction
Core reputation: “Famous Monastery on the Frontier, Land of Buddhist Wonders”
Main Attractions
Giant Reclining Buddha (Sakyamuni’s Nirvana Statue)
Length: 34.5 meters (113 ft), Shoulder width: 7.5 meters
Material: Wooden frame with clay sculpture, gilded and painted
Features: The largest indoor reclining Buddha statue in Asia. The Buddha lies on his right side, head resting on a lotus, eyes half-closed, serene.
Great Buddha Hall
A grand Xixia-style hall with nine bays wide and seven bays deep.
Walls adorned with ancient murals, including stories from Journey to the West.
Sutra Library
Houses over 6,000 volumes of ancient scriptures.
Preserves the complete and rare Ming Dynasty official edition Dazangjing (Great Canon) and handwritten golden sutras.
Earth Pagoda (Mituo Thousand Buddha Pagoda)
A 33.37-meter-high Ming Dynasty Lama-style pagoda, one of Zhangye’s landmarks.
History
Built as an imperial temple of the Western Xia.
Favored and renovated by royal families of the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties.
A vital cultural hub on the ancient Silk Road.
Visitor Info
Address: Dafo Temple Lane, Minzhu West St, Ganzhou District
Ticket: ¥40
Hours: 8:00–18:00 (Summer); 8:30–17:30 (Winter)
