A temple hidden in the mountains of Taizhou is stunning the world!
In Wenling, Taizhou, Zhejiang, there is an amazing place where temples are built on cliffs, like an independent city in the sky. What kind of charm does it have that can shock everyone who has seen it? Today, let us walk into Taizhou Wanfo Temple and uncover its mysterious veil.
Wanfo Temple is located in the Baxianyan Scenic Area of Changyu Cave, Xinhe Town. It was built in the first year of Tongzhi in the Qing Dynasty (1863), originally named Baxianyan Temple, which was initially just a small temple. Later, due to mining activities, the temple was abandoned, leaving only dilapidated stone structures. In 1999, Master Changjun became the abbot and was determined to rebuild the temple in the barren mountains and cliffs. After 20 years, he raised funds through traditional methods, carefully designed it, and completed the reconstruction in three stages. Every brick, tile, stone, and wood was moved by hand, and finally created the magnificent "Contemporary Hanging Temple" we see today.
The temple is built on a mountain, covering an area of more than 100 acres, cleverly using cliffs as the foundation of the building, and the overall layout is rigorous. The building uses natural materials such as stone and wood, which blend with the color of the mountain, simple and grand. Looking up from the foot of the mountain, the red buildings and dark tiles are looming between the green trees and strange rocks, as if floating in the air. Entering the scenic area, the first thing that catches your eye is the giant "Buddha" character on the cliff wall. The Buddha character is directly engraved on the cliff wall, with vigorous strokes and majestic momentum, forming a strong contrast with the simple cliff wall, making it an excellent photo spot. Walking along the mountain road, the small and exquisite Ancient Buddha Cave comes into view. The Buddha statues in the cave have different expressions and exquisite craftsmanship. Although the cave is not large, it shows the accumulation of history. Further up, the statues of the Eighteen Arhats on both sides of the road are lifelike, as if guarding the temple. The towering golden Guanyin statue at the top of the temple is even more shocking. She is golden, majestic, and compassionately overlooks the mountains and rivers and passing tourists. Standing under the statue and overlooking the entire Baxianyan Scenic Area, the view is extremely wide, and people's hearts are instantly calmed. In the core Wanfo Hall of the temple, the 6.8m-high, 13-ton Sakyamuni bronze statue is covered with real gold, and the main Buddha is surrounded by 10,000 small Buddha statues, forming a spectacular scene of "Ten Thousand Buddhas Worshiping", perfectly integrating traditional Buddhist art with modern sculpture techniques.
Travel route from Beijing to Taizhou Wanfo Temple
- Plane: Fly directly from Beijing Capital International Airport or Daxing International Airport to Taizhou Luqiao Airport, the flight time is about 2.5 hrs. After arrival, take a taxi to Wanfo Temple, the journey is about 1.5 hrs, and the cost is about CNY 200–300. You can also take the airport bus to Wenling city first, and then transfer to a bus or taxi, which is relatively cheaper, but takes a longer time.
- High-speed train: Take the high-speed train from Beijing South Station to Wenling Station, the whole journey takes about 6–7 hrs. After arriving at Wenling Station, take a taxi to Wanfo Temple, the journey is about 40 mins, and the transportation is relatively convenient.
- Self-driving: The whole journey is about 1,490 km, driving along the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway, Rongwu Expressway, Binlai Expressway, Hushan Expressway, Huning Expressway, Changtai Expressway, and Shenhai Expressway, which takes about 20 hrs. Self-driving allows you to freely arrange your itinerary and enjoy the scenery along the way, but for long-distance driving, you need to arrange rest reasonably and do a vehicle inspection in advance.
Recommended hotels nearby
- Taizhou Qilong Marriott Hotel: Located in Huangyan, it is of a higher grade, and the supporting facilities include a 24-hr fitness center and an indoor heated swimming pool. The rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, kettles, etc., and some have a seating area. The reference price is CNY 700–1,200 per night.
- Taizhou Hilton Hotel: Close to Taizhou Ocean Park, it offers free bicycles, an indoor swimming pool, and a fitness center. The rooms have air conditioning and flat-screen TVs, and some have safes and seating areas. The reference price is CNY 700–1,300 per night.
- Taizhou Luqiao Atour Hotel: Cost-effective, the rooms have air conditioning, flat-screen TVs with cable channels, etc. It is a certain distance from Wanfo Temple, but the transportation is convenient, and the reference price is CNY 500–1,000 per night.
Taizhou Wanfo Temple is very worth a visit. Here, you can admire the ingenious architecture and feel the perfect integration of nature and humanity; you can appreciate the exquisite Buddha statue carvings and understand the broad and profound Buddhist culture; you can also let your soul be deeply baptized in the solemn and sacred atmosphere. This is a double feast for the eyes and the soul, waiting for you to experience it.