2025 Binzhou Travel Guide: Must-see attractions, popular food, hotels, transportation routes (updated in March)

It is a two-hour drive from Xi'an. I previously thought it was just a grotto on a cliff. But when I actually entered from Mingjingtai and saw the Giant Buddha Cave, I was deeply impressed by the ancient carving craftsmanship. Only by being there can you feel its shock. Bin County is the first stop on the northern route of the ancient Silk Road east of Chang'an. There are more than 100 existing caves in the Dafo Temple Grottoes and many cliff carvings. It is the largest grotto group in Shaanxi Province. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 2014. The Big Buddha Cave is the largest cave, housing the largest Buddha statue in Shaanxi Province, which is 20 meters high. The Thousand Buddha Cave is a large central pillar cave with a nearly square plan. The niches inside the cave are arranged in a disorderly manner, and most of the statues are works from the reign of Wu Zetian. The Arhat Cave is slightly smaller in scale and has a special shape. It is an unfinished central pillar cave, and the statue style is similar to that of the Thousand Buddha Cave.

Binzhou Giant Buddha, also known as Binxian Giant Buddha, is located in the Great Buddha Temple Grottoes on the south bank of the Jinghe River, 10 km west of Binzhou City (formerly Bin County), Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. The Giant Buddha is an Amitabha Buddha statue, 20 meters high, with a head height of 5.2 meters, a hand height of 4.5 meters, a finger height of 2 meters, and a fingernail thickness of 0.5 meters. The Giant Buddha sits on a lotus platform, and its grandeur and exquisite carving are breathtaking. The Binzhou Great Buddha Temple Grottoes were built in the early Tang Dynasty during the reign of Li Shimin, more than 1,300 years ago, and are a national key cultural relic protection unit. The entire temple has 130 caves, scattered over a 400-meter-long three-dimensional rock face. The most famous of these is the Giant Buddha in the Great Buddha Cave, which is not only the largest Buddha in Shaanxi but also one of the largest Buddha statues on the Silk Road. There is a theory that the Giant Buddha was built according to the true appearance of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, but this theory is more based on folklore and historical speculation, and there is no conclusive evidence to support it. However, regardless of the truth, the Binzhou Giant Buddha attracts countless visitors with its unique artistic charm and profound cultural heritage. In addition to the Giant Buddha itself, the Great Buddha Temple Grottoes also include the Thousand Buddha Cave, the Arhat Cave, and other parts, which together form a large and exquisite group of Buddhist statues. These grottoes not only showcase the charm of Buddhist art but also witness the cultural exchange and integration on the ancient Silk Road. In recent years, the Binzhou Great Buddha Temple Grottoes have been successfully included in the World Heritage List as one of the sites of the "Silk Road: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Network" jointly declared by China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, further enhancing its international reputation and influence.

Ten kilometers west of Binzhou City, Xianyang The ochre-red rocks stand abruptly beside the road Several caves can be seen faintly in the mountains and forests. This is the Binzhou Dafo Temple Grottoes This group of caves carries thousands of years of history and culture. It is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese Buddhist art. Known as "the first wonder of Guanzhong" The grottoes were first built in the second year of the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. More than a thousand years ago It was built by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, to commemorate Battle of Binzhou Qianshuiyuan and Wulongban Built for the fallen Originally named Ofukuji Temple In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was renamed Qingshou Temple It was called Dafo Temple in the Ming Dynasty. Carving images in caves on the mountain Distribution of large and small caves on the three-dimensional cliff face The Buddhist niches and statues are large and magnificent The center of the Dafo Cave is also the largest cave in the temple. A 20-meter-high Buddha statue is located in the center of the cave. With a sapphire-blue bun on his head, he sat on a lotus platform. Two statues of Bodhisattvas stand on both sides Wearing a crown and gorgeous necklaces, she looks solemn Binzhou Dafo Temple Grottoes An outstanding representative of ancient Chinese Buddhist art An important witness to cultural exchanges along the Silk Road

I've long heard of the famous Binxian Dafo Temple, and today I finally got to see it in person. It truly deserves its reputation as the "No. 1 Wonder of Guanzhong." This magnificent temple, first built in the Northern Wei and flourishing in the Tang Dynasty, is truly breathtaking. The Dafo Temple consists of the Dafo Cave, the Thousand Buddha Cave, the Arhat Cave, and more, and is home to many exquisite stone carvings. The statue of Amitabha in the Dafo Cave is especially grand and majestic, embodying the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.

Formerly known as Yingfu Temple, it was renamed Qingshou Temple by Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty (reigned 1022-1063) in celebration of the birthday of his adoptive mother, Empress Dowager Liu. The grottoes were carved into the mountain and the stones were carved into images. There are more than 130 grottoes in total, which are scattered in an orderly manner on the three-dimensional cliff face about 400 meters long. There are 446 Buddhist niches with more than 1,980 statues, which are divided into five parts: the Big Buddha Cave, the Thousand Buddha Caves, the Arhat Caves (Buddha Caves), the Zhangba Buddha Caves, and the Monk Caves. There are 361 existing caves and niches, including 19 caves with statues, and 1,498 statues preserved. The Dafo Temple Grottoes were first carved in the Northern Dynasties (439-581), flourished in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and were remodeled and redecorated in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), and Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368). It is more than 1,500 years old This cave is named after a 24-meter-tall seated statue of Amitabha Buddha carved in the cave. It is the largest and best-preserved cave in the early days of the temple. It is also the largest and most exquisite cave in China from the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang. (Inside the Guan Gong statue, there is free chanting to pray for peace, recommended) During the visit, the Zhangba Buddha Cave was under renovation and could not be viewed. It was all blocked by scaffolding. It was a pity. The door downstairs of the cave was locked and it was impossible to look up from the bottom. It was a small pity. It was less than 2 hours' drive from Xi'an, and it was still very valuable. 🕘【Opening hours】： 08:00-18:00 💴【Ticket price】: 35 in off-season, 20 in peak season ⛺【Amusement projects】: Big Buddha Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, Zhangba Buddha Cave 🚌【Transportation Guide】: Charter a car and experience the northern Shaanxi style on the road 👉【Itinerary】: It is not recommended to stay in the local area. You can visit Qianling Mausoleum, Zhaoling Mausoleum, Maolin Hanyang Mausoleum and other scenic spots along the way 🧡【Pre-trip preparation】: You can enter after purchasing in advance, or you can buy on site The Dafo Temple Grottoes still have stone carvings of "The Sutra of Bathing Monks in the Greenhouse" and "The Heart Sutra of Prajnaparamita", 8 steles, and 178 inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty onwards. Shaanxi is a province with many grottoes, and its number of grottoes ranks second in the country, second only to Gansu. According to data from the second national cultural relics survey, grottoes, temples and steles in Shaanxi Province account for as much as 11.9% of all cultural relics sites in the province. The excavation of grottoes in Shaanxi began in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, and reached peak development in the Sui, Tang, Song and Ming Dynasties. They are mainly distributed in the northern Shaanxi Plateau. As of 2021, there are 1,012 grotto temples in Shaanxi Province.

In the long river of time, the Binzhou Giant Buddha Temple Grottoes are like a bright pearl, quietly shining with the light of history and art. Stepping into this sacred place is like traveling through a thousand years. The grottoes are carved into the mountain, majestic and magnificent, witnessing the vicissitudes and glory of time. The vivid Buddha statues, with their kind faces and different postures, and the exquisite carving techniques, make people marvel at the wisdom and craftsmanship of the ancients. Here, every mark tells an ancient story, and every line flows with the power of faith. The sunlight shines through the gaps in the caves, casting a sacred glow on the Buddha statues, creating a peaceful and solemn atmosphere. The Binzhou Giant Buddha Temple Grottoes are not only a treasure of art but also a resting place for the soul. It carries the memory of history, leading us to feel the charm of ancient civilization and to pursue the long-lost peace and tranquility.

Binzhou Great Buddha Temple Grottoes The Great Buddha Temple was originally named Yingfu Temple. The Great Buddha Temple Grottoes were carved into the mountain, with over 100 grottoes scattered across the cliff face. The grottoes include the Great Buddha Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, and more. The Great Buddha Temple Grottoes are listed as a World Heritage Site. The Great Buddha Cave was carved from a natural stone cave and was built by Emperor Taizong of Tang to commemorate the soldiers who died in the Battle of Qianshuiyuan in Binzhou. The cave is named after the 24-meter-tall Amitabha Buddha statue carved inside. It is the largest and best-preserved cave in the temple and the largest and most exquisite cave from the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang in China. Time needed: About 1 hour Tickets: Seniors aged 60–64 need to buy tickets. Most attractions in Shaanxi only offer free admission to seniors aged 65 and over. How to buy tickets: Tickets can be purchased on-site. Unfortunately, apart from the Great Buddha Cave, most of the statues in the other caves have been damaged.

|A romantic journey through a thousand years. The Thousand Buddha Cave is located to the east of the Dafo Cave and is a large central pillar cave with a nearly square plane. The cave is not very high and the central pillar is relatively large. Only a few large niches on the front of the central pillar seem to have some planning, while the other niches on the wall are arranged in a disorderly manner, which is the result of continuous re-carving after the cave was formed. The Thousand Buddha Cave has a total of 696 statues. Judging from some inscriptions between the statue niches, most of them should be works from the period when Wu Zetian was in power. The statue niches include single Buddha statues, double Buddha statues, one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, one Buddha, two disciples, two Bodhisattva statues, single Bodhisattva statues, and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva statues in Buddha costumes. Some also include heavenly kings and warriors in a group of Buddha, disciple, and Bodhisattva statues. The common era style of these Buddha statues is: they all have the physical characteristics of a drum chest, thin waist, wide crotch, moderate head-to-body ratio, and full and healthy body. This is a statue art that combines the health and beauty of the human body. It is a new type of art developed from the plump Buddha statues of the Northern Zhou Dynasty. In particular, some standing Bodhisattva statues clearly show the graceful body contours of women, coupled with the twisted crotch to one side, like a dance movement, perfectly depicting the charm and grace of the Bodhisattva. This is a reflection of the positive and upward spirit brought by the prosperity of the Tang Dynasty in the Buddhist art of the world, and it is also a typical statue art style of the Tang Dynasty.

National Treasure Journey - Binxian Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda 2023.11.19 The fifth batch of key national cultural relics protection units - Ancient architecture category, located in the city of Binzhou, Xianyang, Shaanxi Province Main attractions: The Binxian Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda, also known as 'Bin Pagoda' or 'Binxian Pagoda', commonly referred to as 'Leifeng Pagoda' The Binxian Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda has two arched doors on the south and north sides on the ground floor, and each layer above has four arched doors, with their positions staggered from one layer to the next. Each layer is constructed with a pseudo-wood structure with three sections, and each layer features overhanging eaves. The top of the pagoda is a brick-built pointed tip with an iron structure, giving the pagoda a tall and graceful appearance, showcasing the superb architectural art of the Tang and Song dynasties. Its lively atmosphere and the richness of cultural activities among the masses are definitely ranked among the top in the national key cultural relics protection areas in the country.

The Dafo Temple Grottoes began to be carved in the Northern Dynasty, and were extensively excavated in the early Tang Dynasty. They were basically completed in the second year of Zhenguan (628). They were built by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, to commemorate the soldiers who died in the battles of Qianshuiyuan and Wulongban in Binzhou. The temple was named Yingfu Temple. It was renamed Qingshou Temple in the Northern Song Dynasty. Since the Ming Dynasty, it has been commonly known as Dafo Temple, named after the tall and exquisite statue of Amitabha. The Dafo Temple is built on a mountain with carved stone statues. There are more than 130 grottoes, which are distributed in a three-dimensional cliff face about 400 meters long. There are 446 Buddha niches and more than 1980 statues, divided into four parts: Dafo Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, Arhat Cave, and Zhaba Buddha Cave. It was once praised by the Qing Dynasty scholar Bi Yuan as the "first wonder of Guanzhong". "Dafo Cave" is the center of the temple and the largest cave of the temple. The cave is semi-circular in plan, with a diameter of about 34 meters and a height of 31 meters. Inside the cave, there are three statues of one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas made of stone and clay. Amitabha (commonly known as Dafo) leans against the cliff in the middle, 20 meters high, 13 meters wide at the shoulders, 4.5 meters high at the hands, and 2 meters long at the fingers. He has a gemstone blue bun on his head, beautiful eyebrows and kind eyes, and sits on a lotus platform. Behind the head of the Buddha, there are two round carved lace and seven relief sitting Buddhas, with 19 flying apsaras scattered nearby, forming a rich and auspicious backlight. The Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta standing on both sides are both 15.6 meters tall, wearing crowns and gorgeous tassels, and their expressions are calm. In addition, there are more than 400 small statues of different shapes in the Buddha niches in the cave. The cave is large in scale, with majestic statues and exquisite carvings. It is a treasure trove of ancient modeling. "Dafo Cave" preserves the magnificent backlight carving of the Buddha of that year. There are seven Buddhas sitting in a circle on it, and twenty-two exquisite flying apsaras are guarding the Maitreya Buddha's pagoda, presenting a joyful scene of the Western Paradise. It is known as the largest Buddha in Shaanxi and the Silk Road. The Thousand Buddha Cave is located on the east side of the Dafo Cave. It is a central pillar room structure, composed of three adjacent small caves, with the two sides deeper and the middle slightly smaller. There are more than 300 statues in the cave, most of which are reliefs, except for a few that are three-dimensional. In each niche on the four walls, there are mostly one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas or one Buddha, two disciples and two Bodhisattva statues, with the main statue being Maitreya Buddha. The Bodhisattva statues in each niche present a beautiful large "S" shape, with various postures, most of them bare-chested and bare-bellied, elegant and dynamic, like singing and dancing, reflecting the free and open social fashion of the Tang Dynasty. The Arhat Cave is located on the west side of the Dafo Cave. It is composed of four small stone caves in a row, with more than 100 statues of different sizes and heights. The main statue in the cave is Sakyamuni Buddha, and the rest are his disciples, Bodhisattvas, strong men, vajras, etc. One of the attendants of Sakyamuni Buddha is Manjusri Bodhisattva. He sits steadily in the middle of the double round lotus petals on the back of a lion, with a very powerful momentum. The lion's shape is extremely charming, with a bell around its neck and its tail swinging, giving a sense of galloping. The Zhaba Buddha Cave, also known as "Yingfu Temple", is located 200 meters west of the Dafo Cave. Nine small stone caves excavated along the mountain are scattered on the cliff face. The main statue is the Zhaba Buddha, which is 7.5 meters high. The two emperors standing Bodhisattvas are both 5.8 meters high. There are 108 statues of various kinds, with a simple and solemn style, most of which are severely damaged. In front of the Dafo Cave, there is a five-story protective building with a brick and wood structure. The original building was built in the Tang Dynasty. The existing building was rebuilt during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and was built during the Qing Dynasty. The building is 32 meters high. The first and second floors are paved with strip bricks "one smooth and one ding". The base is square, and the top is a hexagonal spire. The word "Juelu" is carved on the lintel of the first floor. The second floor is piled up with three arch-shaped door holes. The word "Mingjing Tai" is carved on the middle door hole. The three door holes are connected to the Dafo Cave. The light in the Dafo Cave is bright, which is convenient for the worshippers to look at all the statues, so that all the statues in the Dafo Cave are presented to the worshippers in the best light and the best angle. From the third floor up, all are wooden buildings. The width and height of each floor gradually decrease from bottom to top, and the overall outline is square tower-shaped. Each floor has doors and windows, railings are made, and you can climb up to look far away. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit.

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Buddhism was introduced to China along the Silk Road, leaving a group of Buddhist grottoes here, known as 'Nine Bends and Eighteen Caves'. Tang Xuanzang passed by here on his journey to the west, and later generations attached the 'Journey to the West' story, calling this place the hometown of Sun Wukong, and sculpting characters from the Journey to the West, spreading the story of the Journey to the West. To celebrate peace and pray for a good year, in the first year of Longqing in the Ming Dynasty, another lamp mountain grotto was carved on Huaguoshan; every year on the Yuanxiao Festival, local people would light thousands of open-air grotto lamps, lasting for three days, in order to pray for favorable weather and a good harvest. The Lamp Mountain Grottoes have more than 3,000 large stone nests, each of which can hold a bowl of clear oil. When lit at night, they look like a string of pearls, resembling flying pavilions, forming patterns such as temples, Leifeng Tower, Big Dipper, sedan top, and archway.

The Binzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda, also known as the 'Bin Pagoda' or 'Bin County Pagoda', is commonly referred to as the 'Leifeng Pagoda'. It is located in the city of Binzhou, Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. The pagoda was established in the fifth year of Huangyou of the Northern Song Dynasty (1053), and is an octagonal seven-story pavilion-style brick pagoda. Each side of the base is 5.6 meters long, with a total height of 47.84 meters, and a single wall is hollow. The Binzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda has two arched doors on the south and north of the base, and four arched doors are set on each floor above the second floor. The positions of the upper and lower floors are staggered layer by layer, each floor is made of imitation wood structure with three rooms, each floor has eaves, the top of the pagoda is a brick-built spire, and a iron pagoda is placed on top. The overall appearance of the pagoda is tall and beautiful, showing the superb architectural art of the Tang and Song Dynasties. On June 25, 2001, the Bin County Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda was announced by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the fifth batch of national key cultural relics protection units.

Next to the main thoroughfare between Xi'an and Lanzhou, there is a large Buddhist cave group in Shaanxi Province, Bin County Big Buddha Temple. . The temple is an important historical and cultural site on the ancient Silk Road, witnessing the historical process of Buddhism being introduced into Chang'an from the Western Region. The main building of the Great Buddha Temple is built on the back of the mountain. The structure is patchwork and effectively protects the internal Buddha statue. The Dafo Temple Grottoes were originally excavated in the early Tang Dynasty. After repeated expansion to reach today's scale, it is one of the third batch of key cultural relics protection units in the country. In order to protect this monument carrying thousands of years of history, the 312 National Road was in front of the Great Buddha Temple. Diverted to avoid adverse effects on the cultural relics. The central five-story building is a typical Ming and Qing style building. The overall beauty is beautiful and exquisite, which blocks the Buddha statues on the mountain walls and delays the erosion of the Buddha statues by the sun and the wind. The largest Buddha statue in the temple is the Amitabha Buddha in the middle of the temple. It was excavated in the early Tang Dynasty. It is a natural art and vivid, and is an excellent masterpiece of art. In addition to the Amitabha Buddha in the Buddha Cave, there is also a statue of Buddha. Bodhisattva is natural and beautiful, and its facial expressions are vivid. It not only shows the artistic attainments of the Tang Dynasty sculpture craftsmen, but also allows people to see the Tang Dynasty's luxurious costume culture. Amitabha's right hand side is a great image to the Bodhisattva. The upper part of the statue is well preserved, but the foot is seriously damaged due to prolonged weathering. The local cultural relics department has taken effective measures to further protect and repair it. In addition to several huge Buddha statues and bodhisattvas, there are countless small and medium-sized Buddha statues and Buddhist altars in the Big Buddha Temple. The Big Buddha Temple in Binxian, seen from the sky, is surrounded by lush trees.