Atlas of China
Dafo Temple, Zhangye 张掖大佛寺Zhāngyè Dàfó Sì
4A scenic area · National heritage site · Zhangye, Gansu
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Zhangye
- Region
- Gansu
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 4A scenic area, National heritage site
About Dafo Temple, Zhangye
The temple was founded in 1098 under the Western Xia, and its two-storey Great Buddha Hall shelters a painted clay reclining Buddha about 35 m long, often described as the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China, with his ten disciples standing behind him. The temple houses the Ganzhou District Museum, and the scenic area also takes in the earthen Mituo Qianfo stupa of the Ming (about 33 m tall) and the Shanxi Guild Hall next door, built by Shanxi merchants in 1730 with a gateway stage and a timber memorial arch.
How to get to Dafo Temple, Zhangye
In the old centre of Zhangye, about 800 m south of the Drum Tower, easily reached on foot or by city bus.
Nearby
- Zhangye Danxia (Rainbow Mountains) 张掖七彩丹霞 30 km
Mountains striped red, orange and yellow like the layers of a painted cake
Also within 20 km: Xilai Temple 西来寺 (under 10 km), Zhangye Drum Tower 张掖鼓楼 (under 10 km), Zhangye East Granary 张掖东仓 (under 10 km), Ganquan Red History and Culture Area 甘泉红色历史文化旅游区 (under 10 km), Zhangye National Wetland Park 张掖国家湿地公园 (under 10 km), Lushuiwan Scenic Area 芦水湾 (under 10 km).
On the map
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