[2025 Zhangye Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhangye Buddha Temple (Updated Apr)

Zhangye, this city, no one will ask you whether you love it or not, only people will ask you why you love it. The colorful colors, brilliant ethnic groups, inclusive religions, ancient history, galloping horses, young heroes, there are many reasons to fall in love with Zhangye, and it seems that no reason is needed. Zhangye is located in the transition zone from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to the Inner Mongolia Plateau, and has gathered all the natural landscapes that people can imagine, such as glaciers, snow mountains, forests, grasslands, rivers, lakes, Danxia, wetlands, deserts, Gobi, mountains, and canyons. It can be called a world geomorphological landscape garden. Zhangye was originally a place where ethnic minorities lived. In history, it was a necessary place for the Western Regions to enter the Central Plains. It was also a strategic point for a strong dynasty to achieve unification and strength. Various ethnic groups blend here, and the ethnic culture is brilliant and colorful. As a 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city, Zhangye's history is old enough. The ancient history adds a bit of heaviness to this city. Rich historical relics have also become our carrier to look back at the past. 🚙Transportation The scenic spots in Zhangye are far apart, public transportation is not convenient, it is recommended to drive or charter. 📜Itinerary details D1️⃣: Zhangye Museum➡️Xilai Temple➡️Dafo Temple➡️Muta Temple ✅Zhangye Museum (2h) The first stop is at the Zhangye Museum, overlooking the 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city and entering the important town of the ancient Silk Road. Follow the footsteps of the commentator, step by step into the museum, in the exquisite cultural relics such as bronzes, pottery, coins, porcelain, etc., look back at the 4,000-year-old civilization ancient city, the important town of the ancient Silk Road. ✅Xilai Temple (1h) Feel the incense after the reconstruction in the Xilai Temple, which was built in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. ✅Dafo Temple (2h) Check in the only religious hall of the Western Xia minority in China, the largest indoor reclining Buddha Nirvana statue in China, and the murals of Journey to the West, which are 200 years earlier than the book. ✅Muta Temple (1h) Take a walk outside the Muta Temple in the evening and see the life of the locals outside the ancient building. D2️⃣: Biandukou➡️Binhe Jiuliang ✅Biandukou (3h) Many people rush to Qinghai to see a field of rapeseed flowers, but in Zhangye Biandukou, under the Qilian Mountains, the rapeseed flowers bloom, also blooming the colors of Zhangye. Biandukou has travel photography, hot air balloons and other projects to check in. ✅Binhe Jiuliang (3h) Come to the birthplace of Binhe Jiuliang, in the strong aroma of wine, from the Shen Zhou Qu Workshop to the brewing workshop, from the 10,000-ton wine cellar to the 10,000-acre sorghum raw material base, step by step to trace the roots, go into the past and present of Binhe Jiuliang, and explore this time-brewed Long legend. D3️⃣: Colorful Danxia ✅Colorful Danxia (sunrise and sunset, rest at noon) The colorful Danxia has long become the business card of Zhangye and the dreamland of many good “color” followers at home and abroad. When the colorful Danxia meets the hot air balloon, it is even more romantic in the summer of Zhangye. D4️⃣: Gaotai Site➡️Zhengyi Gorge➡️Camel City Site ✅Gaotai Site (1h) Not far from the Camel City site, history lovers check in, if time is tight, you can ignore it. ✅Zhengyi Gorge (3h) You can see the wild gorge of the Great Wall, desolate and wild. ✅Camel City Site (2h) Must check in, once the ancient capital of Beiliang, the military city of the Tang Dynasty, now only the broken walls remain, stubbornly standing in the desert alkali, desolate and solemn, telling the prosperity of the past with the wind and sand. The ruins are silent and persistent, this stubbornness that spans 1,800 years, makes people tearful. D5⃣️: Sunan Matisi➡️Kangle Grassland➡️Wenshu Temple➡️Sunan County ✅Matisi (3h) Mainly visit Matisi North Temple, Thousand Buddha Cave. Matisi North Temple is the most peculiar, most strictly arranged, and largest grotto in the Matisi Grottoes. Must check in Thirty-three days, Tibetan Buddha Hall. ✅Kangle Grassland (3h) The grassland in summer is close to the sky and not far from the snow mountain, which is very similar to the appearance of the dream far away. Here you can take a large travel photo of the Yugur style. ✅Wenshu Temple (2h) The ancient grotto group under the main peak of Qilian Mountain, for thousands of years, Tibetan Buddhism, Han Buddhism, Taoism and other Chinese religious sects have intersected and integrated here. D6️⃣: Yanzhi Mountain➡️Shandan Horse Farm ✅Yanzhi Mountain (3h) Shandan Yanzhi Mountain, the waist of the Hexi Corridor, the throat of the Ganliang Ancient Road, has always been a must for the military. Huo Qubing defeated the Huns here, laying the foundation for Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty to "expand the Western Regions and open up the Silk Road". Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty held a "World Expo" here, which became the prototype of the modern World Expo. ✅Shandan Horse Farm (3h) Must check in, although the distance is relatively far, but it is currently the largest and oldest horse farm in the world.

If in Zhangye, I’m sure you’re here for the Mati temple, the Grand Canyon, and the Rainbow mountain but this place is also nice. If you have a bit of time (all you need is about one hour), go and visit the Big Buddha Temple! How to get there - During my time in Zhangye, I had a private driver. There’s most likely a bus that could drop you off near the temple but taking a DiDi is always convenient. Attraction - There are a few temples and some beautiful flowers. Have a nice little stroll and enjoy the beauty of this scenic spot. 😊 Cost - If I remember correctly, the ticket was about 40-50¥. #zhangye #gansu #temple #urbanexplorer #summervacation #thisischina

The #dafotemple 大佛寺 is an ancient Buddhist temple in #silkroad #zhangye, Gansu, China, notable for its gigantic reclining Buddha statue made around 1100 during the Western Xia and Song dynasty, which is thirty-five metres long. #temple #unforgetabletrip #happynewyear

Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye: a six-day tour of the Hexi Corridor! Explore the murals of the Mogao Caves, the tranquility of Crescent Moon Lake, and the magnificence of the Zhangye Danxia Landform. This relaxing journey is perfect for seniors. -------- 🚩Itinerary: D1: Arrive in Dunhuang, free day Upon arrival in Dunhuang, experience the charm of the city and enjoy a full day of leisure at your own pace. D2: Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Lake Explore the ancient Buddhist grottoes and admire the beauty of the murals. Then, head to Mingsha Mountain to listen to the singing sands and appreciate the tranquility of Crescent Moon Lake. D3: Western Thousand Buddha Caves—Yangguan Pass—Yumenguan Pass Ruins Delve into Buddhist art, trace the footsteps of the ancient Silk Road, and experience the profound history and cultural heritage. D4: Jiayuguan Fort—Overhanging Great Wall Visit Jiayuguan Fort and experience the majesty of the border fortress and the vicissitudes of history. Then, ascend the Overhanging Great Wall for a panoramic view of the desert landscape. D5: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park—Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple Marvel at the magical colors of the Zhangye Danxia Landform and visit the ancient Giant Buddha Temple to experience the charm of religious culture. D6: End of trip, return from Zhangye The journey concludes with cherished memories as you depart from Zhangye Airport. -------- Recommended Attractions: 🌈Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park: This park boasts a rich variety of Danxia landforms with stunning, colorful scenery. It's perfect for seniors to stroll leisurely and appreciate the wonders of nature. 🙏Mogao Caves: Want to learn about Buddhist art and history? The Mogao Caves are a must-see. Here, you can admire the millennium-old Buddhist murals, grottoes, and precious cultural relics, allowing you to easily experience Dunhuang's rich cultural heritage. 🏯Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple: This ancient temple, with over 900 years of history, houses ancient architecture and exquisite Buddhist statues. Seniors can experience tranquility and solemnity here, and learn about the charm of Buddhist art. 🏞️Overhanging Great Wall: This site showcases the fusion of ancient Silk Road and Great Wall cultures. You can enjoy a leisurely visit, admire the historical sculptures and ancient weapons exhibitions, and feel the weight of history. -------- Travel Preparations:🎒 👗 Clothing: Bring a jacket, long-sleeved sun-protective clothing, sun-protective sleeves, a hat, and sunglasses for protection from the sun and wind. 🎫 Documents: Your ID card is essential. Don't forget discount documents such as student IDs and senior citizen cards to save money! 🔋 Accessories: Bring a power bank, charging cable to keep your phone fully charged, and a selfie stick to capture beautiful moments! A water bottle is also important to stay hydrated. -------- Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye: a journey through history and natural beauty that is definitely worth experiencing for yourself!

A six-day travel guide for Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye is here! The close combination of history and natural landscapes will show you a different kind of Northwest China! -------------------- 🚩Itinerary: Day 1: Arrive in Dunhuang, free time Arrive in Dunhuang and enjoy free time to experience the unique charm of this fascinating desert oasis.🌄 Day 2: Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring Explore the Mogao Caves, a treasure trove of Buddhist art for thousands of years, and marvel at the beauty of the murals. In the afternoon, head to Mingsha Mountain to listen to the sounds of the sand and admire the tranquility of Crescent Moon Spring.🏜️ Day 3: Western Thousand Buddha Caves—Yangguan Pass Scenic Area—Yumenguan Pass Ruins Delve deeper into Buddhist culture with a visit to the Western Thousand Buddha Caves. Afterward, journey to the Yangguan Pass Scenic Area and the Yumenguan Pass Ruins to experience the charm of the ancient Silk Road.🏯 Day 4: Jiayuguan Fort—Overhanging Great Wall Arrive at Jiayuguan and tour the majestic Jiayuguan Fort. Afterward, climb the Overhanging Great Wall to appreciate the magnificence of the Great Wall and the weight of history.🏞️ Day 5: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park—Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple Travel to Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park and admire the wonders of nature. Afterward, visit the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple to experience the tranquility and depth of Buddhist culture.🌈 Day 6: Departure from Zhangye, end of trip The pleasant Northwest journey ends. Depart from Zhangye Airport and head home, looking forward to seeing you again next time!✈️ -------------------- Travel essentials: 👗 Clothing: The temperature in Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye is moderate in March, but the temperature difference between day and night is significant. It is recommended to bring a windproof and warm jacket, long-sleeved T-shirts, jeans, and comfortable sneakers or hiking boots. Don't forget to bring a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses for both fashion and sun protection! 🎒 Accessories: In addition to the usual power banks and charging cables, masks, sunscreen, and sun hats are essential due to the strong winds and sand here. Also, a selfie stick can help you capture beautiful moments, and a water bottle can keep you hydrated in the dry climate. 📂 Documents: Your ID card is a must-have for travel. Also, if you have discount certificates such as student IDs or military IDs, please bring them along, as many scenic spots offer discounts. It's also a good idea to prepare some cash and credit cards for emergencies. -------------------- The deserts of Dunhuang, the majestic Jiayuguan Fort, and the colorful Danxia landforms of Zhangye are waiting for you to explore. Don't forget to like and save this guide to start your journey to the Great Northwest!

Hey friends! Here's a super detailed guide for a 6-day tour of Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye! It'll help you navigate the Northwest with ease, so save it now! -------- 🚩Itinerary: D1: Arrive in Dunhuang, free time—Explore the unique charm of Dunhuang's urban area and experience the rich history of this ancient city. D2: Mogao Caves—Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring Explore the Mogao Caves, a treasure trove of Buddhist art for thousands of years, and admire the beauty of the murals and sculptures; in the afternoon, head to Mingsha Mountain to appreciate the tranquility and mystery of Crescent Moon Spring. D3: Western Thousand Buddha Caves—Yangguan Pass—Yumenguan Pass Ruins Visit the Western Thousand Buddha Caves and experience the charm of Buddhist art; then head to Yangguan Pass and the Yumenguan Pass ruins, retrace the steps of history, and listen to the stories of the ancient Silk Road. D4: Jiayuguan Fort—Hanging Great Wall Arrive at Jiayuguan, visit the majestic Jiayuguan Fort and the winding Hanging Great Wall, and experience the magnificent momentum of the ancient border pass. D5: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park—Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple Experience the wonders of nature at Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park; then visit the Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple and experience the profoundness of Buddhist culture. D6: End of trip, depart from Zhangye With fond memories, conclude this unforgettable journey and depart from Zhangye Airport for home.🌟 -------- Essential Travel Tips: - March Climate: Dunhuang, Jiayuguan, and Zhangye have large temperature differences between day and night, so remember to bring a warm coat🧥. - Airport Transportation: Dunhuang Airport is not far from the city center. You can easily reach your hotel by bus or taxi🚖. - Local Customs: In Zhangye, experience the unique customs of the Yugur people, and don't miss their singing, dancing, and cuisine🍖. - Sun Protection and Moisturizing: The northwest has strong sunlight, so sun protection and moisturizing are essential. Hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen are must-haves🧢🕶️. - Respect Local Customs: Please keep quiet and respect the history and culture when visiting cultural relics such as the Mogao Caves🙏. -------- The magnificence of Dunhuang, the majesty of Jiayuguan, and the colorfulness of Zhangye—the scenery along this route is definitely worth experiencing for yourself!

| Journey Through the Sacred Land of Buddha for a Thousand Years. This ancient temple, built during the Western Xia dynasty, is full of historical charm and is well worth a visit. 📍Address: Giant Buddha Temple Lane, Democracy West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province 💰Tickets: Full price ticket: CNY40/person; student ticket: CNY20/person; free tickets for disabled persons, military and police officers, and elderly people aged 60 (inclusive) and above in Gansu Province. 🕙Opening hours: 08:30–18:30 daily, ticket sales stop at 17:30. 🌟Highlights 1. Giant Buddha Hall: The core building, with the largest indoor wooden Buddha statue in China, 34.5 meters long, with a peaceful expression, as if telling the story of a thousand years ago. 2. Murals: The giant murals on the east and west walls of the hall, based on "Journey to the West" and "Investiture of the Gods," are still brightly colored, with exquisite composition and lifelike figures, taking you on an immersive journey through the world of ancient myths. 3. Buddhist Scripture Exhibition Hall: Treasures the most complete first edition of "Yongle Bei Zang," as well as precious scriptures such as "The Great Prajnaparamita Sutra" in gold and silver from the Ming Dynasty, full of the wisdom of the ancients. 🎁Unique Artifacts Double-dragon-ear-ring copper pot from the Ming Dynasty: Forged from yellow copper, with a high collar and a spout, and a dragon-ear-ring on the neck, exquisite craftsmanship, once used as a container for dirt placed in the belly of the Buddha, witnessing the historical changes of the Giant Buddha Temple. Silver coin from the Sassanid Dynasty: Unearthed in 1970 under the base of the Golden Pagoda Hall of the Giant Buddha Temple, it is a powerful witness to the trade between ancient China and Persia, and the small silver coin carries the prosperity of the Silk Road. ❗Visiting Notes 1. The temple is a religious site, so please be quiet and respect religious beliefs and customs, and avoid loud noises. 2. Photography is prohibited in some areas. Please ask the staff before taking photos to avoid violations. 3. It is recommended to hire a guide or rent an audio guide, otherwise it is difficult to understand the profound culture behind these artifacts and buildings.

[Scenic] Tour route: Chengdu-Lanzhou-Wuwei-Zhangye-Dunhuang-Lanzhou-Chengdu 🕐️DAY 1 Lanzhou [HighSpeedRail] Transportation: Chengdu-Lanzhou (high-speed rail about 8 hours) 🛏【️Hotel Guide】 Near Lanzhou West Railway Station (very close to the core scenic spots) 📝Note tips: [Pushpin] The seats in the Chengdu-Lanzhou train are small, there are many tunnels on the way, and the signal is poor. Prepare activities to kill time in advance [Pushpin] Lanzhou-Lanzhou West If the time is right, you can choose the high-speed train, transfer directly at the station, save luggage security check, high comfort, 10 minutes by car 🍽Dining recommendations: As we arrived late, we casually had a bowl of beef noodles at "Ma Youbu Beef Noodles" outside Lanzhou West Station. The taste was okay, but the beef had to be ordered separately, otherwise there were only two small pieces. 🕐️DAY 2 Lanzhou ⛰【Attractions Guide】 [One] Waterwheel Expo Park Metro Line 1 Donggang direction Lanzhou West Station North Square Subway Station - Provincial Government Subway Station Exit A Walk [Two] Zhongshan Bridge, take bus No. 25, get on at Green Park outside Waterwheel Expo Park - Zhongshan Bridge Bus Station [Three] Baitashan Park is just across Zhongshan Bridge. [Four] Xiaoxihu Park Walking [Five] Gansu Provincial Museum Bus No. 32 West Lake Park Station - Provincial Museum Station [Six] Lanzhou Center West Station Night Market 📝Note tips: Gansu Provincial Museum is closed on Mondays. Admission is stopped at 16:30 on other days. Please make an appointment in advance through the mini program and enter by swiping your mainland China ID card. 🍽Dining recommendations: [Tableware] Asia Northwest Mom’s Specialty Dishes Stir-fried lamb meat is tender and juicy, and the vermicelli is chewy [Tableware] Looking back at Lanzhou’s famous snacks Spicy three kinds (potatoes, bean curd skin, vermicelli) Gray beans [Tableware] Fangha Gansu Specialty Tea Sweet embryo milk tea 🕐️DAY 3: Wuwei (stay at Wuwei Station) 🚄Lanzhou West-Wuwei East 1h54min [RoundNails] Sit on the left and you can see the Qilian Mountains Wuwei East-Wuwei Station (Bus No. 28, about 40 minutes) [Mountain] Check-in spots [One] Leitai Han Tomb (Ticket 45) [Two] Kumarajiva Temple [Three] Wuwei Museum 📝Note tips: No reservation is required, enter by swiping your mainland China ID card, there will be a public welfare explanation at 15:00 [Four] South Gate Tower 🍽Dining recommendations: [Tableware] Caiji Noodles Three Sets (Noodles + Braised Pork + Fu Tea) [Tableware] Dough 🕙DAY4 Zhangye (stay near Drum Tower) 🚉Transportation strategy: Wuwei-Zhangye Green leather hard seat 2h40min [Mountain] Check-in spots [One] Big Buddha Temple (Ticket 10 yuan) [Two] Hsi Lai Temple [Three] Zhangye Museum 📝Note tips: 15:00 public welfare lecture 🌟Highlights: [Four] Zhangye National Wetland Park 🚉Transportation strategy: Take bus No. 8 in the city to the terminal ❤Recommendation reason: On a winter afternoon, basking in the sunshine, walking quietly on the plank road, watching the snow-covered lake and the blue sky merge into one, feeling the reeds swaying in the wind, watching white swans, black swans and various water birds playing and frolicking on the lake, every scene is so beautiful that it seems unreal. 🍽Dining recommendations: [Tableware] Fried Bo La (Shandan specialty, fried offal with a barbecue flavor, with onions, green peppers, and steamed buns as side dishes. Large portion is 118, small portion is 98. The boss saw that I was alone and fried a single portion, 68) [Tableware] Qi Saozi Spicy Hot Pot Available in sweet and spicy flavors I eat sweet and spicy, the taste is good, but if you eat too much, you will feel sick and it will be too sweet 🕙DAY5 Ma Ti Temple, Colorful Danxia Day Tour (Group Fee 73 Yuan) 08:00 The driver will pick you up at the hotel and drive to Mati Temple in about 1 hour 📝Note tips: The first ticket is free in the off-season, and the ticket for the must-see attraction Thirty-three Days Grottoes is 35 yuan There are no sightseeing buses in the scenic area. Vehicles entering the scenic area must pay a parking fee of 10 yuan per vehicle. Thousand Buddha Caves [Pushpin] The passages in the cave are narrow and steep, and require a certain amount of physical strength. The Medicine Master Hall in the Thousand Buddha Caves is the most dangerous. [Pushpin] At noon, the driver took us to a place called "Bai Fu" for dinner. It was like a Northwestern specialty food city for tourists. There were many varieties of food, and the taste was quite satisfactory. Go to Qicai Danxia in the afternoon, the journey takes about 1 hour, and the ticket price is 92 yuan Enter from the north entrance, and the sightseeing bus will arrive at Qicai Xianyuan Terrace, Yunhai Terrace (the popular S-curve road), Jinxiu Terrace, and Hongxia Terrace (for watching the sunset and the Little Potala Palace) in turn. [1:00]DAY6 00:13 Zhangye-07:16 Dunhuang (green hard sleeper) After checking in at the hotel, take a taxi to Mogao Grottoes 📝Note tips: Book tickets in advance through the official account. The off-season ticket price is 140, and you can see 10 caves. First watch two movies at the visitor center, then take the scenic sightseeing bus to the caves to queue up in groups of 25 and follow the tour guide. Go to Mingsha Mountain in the afternoon. Tickets are free in the off-season. Camel ride costs 100 yuan. 🍽Dining recommendations: [Tableware] Chen Kee Mutton Restaurant The set meal is 88 yuan, including stewed mutton pancake, cold alfalfa, fried lotus root, milk and egg fermented glutinous rice soup Lots of variety, big portions, good taste DAY7 Dunhuang West Line One-Day Tour (Group Fee 76 Yuan) 08:00 Driver picks you up at the hotel [One] Silk Road Heritage City (Ticket price: 60 yuan) [×] 👎Least recommended: All the scenic spots are man-made, and there is no other meaning except taking photos and checking in. [Two] West Thousand Buddha Caves (Ticket 30) 4 caves to visit [Three] Yangguan (Ticket 50, Shuttle Bus 10) [Four] Yumen Pass (free ticket, shuttle bus 50) [Five] Yadan Ghost City (free ticket, shuttle bus 70) Tips: There are 3 ways to play in Yadan Ghost City 1. Ordinary shuttle bus Get off at each scenic spot and get on the bus to the next scenic spot at the designated spot. Do not go deep into the desert. 2. Beach surfing car 60/person, non-enclosed car, cold in winter 3.Off-road vehicle: 800/vehicle, 4 people per vehicle, form your own team. Both 2 and 3 go deeper into the desert. 3 goes longer in the desert than 2, but both eventually reach the same platform to watch the sunset. [Six] Watching the stars in Dunhuang Ancient City The travel agency is equipped with professional astronomical telescopes, and teachers will explain simple astronomical knowledge and teach you how to set the parameters for shooting the stars. DAY8 Dunhuang-Lanzhou Lanzhou - Chengdu 📝Note tips: You will rest and eat at a restaurant on the way at noon. The price is expensive and the taste is not good. It is recommended to prepare two meals for lunch and dinner. 💰️Total cost: 4150.2 yuan Transportation: 1551.5 yuan Accommodation: 767 yuan Play (tickets, tour fees, sightseeing bus, etc.): 903.7 yuan Food and Beverage: 661.5 yuan Other miscellaneous items (purchase of cultural and creative souvenirs, etc.): 266.5 yuan 💗Other tips:

Zhangye Travel Guide | 3 Days in the Pearl of the Silk Road 🌟 Check Out the Rainbow Mountains + Food Guide 🌟 🔥 Must-See Attractions 1️⃣ Rainbow Mountains 🌈 Voted "China's Most Beautiful Danxia Landform" by National Geographic, the colorful rock formations are as beautiful as an oil painting! Visit in the early morning or late afternoon for the best lighting. The park offers hot air balloon and helicopter rides for a breathtaking view of the landscape. 🎫 Tickets: Regular ticket CNY 93 (includes shuttle bus), in-depth tour CNY 368 (for 3 or more people, includes special protection area). 2️⃣ Mati Temple 🏯 A combination of grotto art and Qilian Mountain scenery, legend has it that a heavenly horse left its hoofprint here! Climbing the nearly vertical 33 Heavens Cave is a thrilling experience, so remember to wear sportswear! From June to September, there are Yugur song and dance performances. 🎫 Tickets: CNY 67, round-trip chartered car approx. CNY 260. 3️⃣ Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple 🕌 A Western Xia royal temple, home to the largest indoor reclining Buddha in Asia (34.5 meters long)! The temple houses precious cultural relics, a must-see for history lovers. 🎫 Tickets: CNY 40, CNY 10 taxi ride from downtown. 4️⃣ Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon ⛰️ Known as the "Chinese Colorado", hike through the canyon and explore the wonders of nature, passing through narrow paths and ladders. We recommend traveling light! 🎫 Tickets: CNY 130 (includes shuttle bus), approx. 3 hours to visit. 🍜 Food Map: Local Hidden Gems - Spicy Hot Pot: Zhangye spicy hot pot is famous for its spicy red oil! We recommend "Liu Yingying Spicy Hot Pot" and "Qi Sister-in-law Spicy Hot Pot", the wide noodles and bean curd are a must-try! - Sao Noodles: A must-try for breakfast! We recommend Yuanji in Dafosi Alley, the spinach noodles with pepper soup are very warming. - Beef Xiaofan: The noodles are as small as rice, the soup is fresh and the meat is tender! Jiao Datou Xiaofan at Nanguan Bus Station is very popular. - Cuoyuzi: Handmade noodles shaped like small fish, the old shop in Ganzhou Market is the most authentic! 📍 Food Landmarks: Ganzhou Market, Huayi Snack City, a one-stop shop for Northwest flavors! 📅 3 Days 2 Nights Itinerary Day 1: Natural Wonders Tour Morning: In-depth tour of the Rainbow Mountains (take photos) → Afternoon: Explore Mati Temple (experience grotto culture) → Stay overnight in the city, visit Ganzhou Market for a late-night snack. Day 2: Culture + Style Experience Morning: Giant Buddha Temple → Afternoon: China Yugur Style Corridor (horseback riding on the grassland, watch ethnic song and dance) → Evening: Try fried bola (warm up by the fire). Day 3: Adventure Hike Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon or ride horses at Shandan Horse Ranch (the poplar forest is beautiful in autumn). 💡 Useful Tips - Best Season: June to September (the grasslands are green and the Rainbow Mountains are most colorful), poplar forests can be seen in October. - Transportation: Taxis are convenient for downtown attractions, we recommend chartering a car (CNY 200-300 per day) or joining a 1-day tour for attractions outside the city. - Accommodation: We recommend staying near Minzhu West Street/Ganzhou Market, convenient for food, cost-effective hotels are CNY 100-200 per person. - Note: The UV rays are strong! Be sure to bring sunscreen and sunglasses; non-slip shoes are required for climbing at Mati Temple. Zhangye, a hidden gem in the Hexi Corridor, is waiting for you to discover its colorful Rainbow Mountains, rich history, and delicious food! ✨

Dear seniors, the 5-day Alxa-Zhangye tour is a pure sightseeing tour without shopping, allowing you to enjoy a relaxing and carefree journey! There is no age or number limit, so seniors can also enjoy the trip. Come and take a look! . 🚗 Route overview: DAY1️⃣: Xi'an-Zhangye Take a high-speed train to Zhangye, enjoy the beautiful scenery of the west along the way, and experience the vast and magnificent Gobi Desert. DAY2️⃣: Heicheng Ruoshui Populus Euphratica Scenic Area Explore Heicheng Ruoshui Populus Euphratica Scenic Area all day, and enjoy the unique natural scenery and the beauty of the thousand-year-old Populus euphratica. DAY3️⃣: Juyan Lake Set off for Juyan Lake, feel the tranquility and magnificence of the lake, and experience the magical charm of nature. DAY4️⃣: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park Visit Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, as if you are in a colorful painting, and every step is amazing. DAY5️⃣: Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple Visit the historic Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple, and feel the profound cultural heritage and religious atmosphere. End the trip and return home with full memories. . Travel tips: - Airport transportation: 🚗 It is about 500 km from Alxa to Zhangye by car. The scenery along the way is beautiful, but please drive safely! - Customs: 🎉 Experience the Yugur culture in Zhangye, and the Mongolian culture in Alxa is also worth exploring. Respect local customs and integrate into them. - Photo spots: 📸 Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park and the desert scenery in Alxa are good places for photography. Don't miss them! - January climate: ❄️ Zhangye is cold and dry, so keep warm; the temperature difference in the Alxa Desert is large, with plenty of sunshine during the day, and you need to wear thick clothes at night. . Alxa and Zhangye, a journey, a lifetime memory. May every step you take be in the scenery, and leave an unforgettable mark in your heart. 🌄

Hey girls! Here's a 5-day travel guide for Alxa and Zhangye! Explore both places without detours. Save it now! . 🚩 Itinerary: Day 1: Xi'an -> Zhangye. Enjoy the magnificent scenery of the west along the way. The endless Gobi Desert is breathtaking. Take a high-speed train to Zhangye. Enjoy the beautiful scenery of the west and the stunning Gobi Desert along the way. Day 2: Heicheng Ruoshui Populus Euphratica Scenic Area Spend the whole day at Heicheng Ruoshui Populus Euphratica Scenic Area and experience the magic of nature. Day 3: Juyan Lake Visit the beautiful Juyan Lake and enjoy the tranquility and harmony of nature. Day 4: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park Visit Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park and enjoy the colorful scenery of nature, as if you were in a fairyland. Day 5: Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple Visit Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple and experience the solemnity of ancient Buddhist culture and architecture. . 🎒 Travel Checklist: Must-Have Items for Alxa-Zhangye Tour 🚀 👚 Clothing: Light cotton and linen clothes, breathable and sun-proof; warm coat for the night, no fear of temperature difference. 🕶️ Accessories: Wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, windproof and stylish; snow goggles for extra coolness, eye protection is important. 💊 Medicine: Cold medicine and painkillers, band-aids and small medicine bags; enjoy your trip with peace of mind and health. 📱 Documents and Electronics: Don't forget your ID card and passport, bring some cash and cards; power bank is a must, offline 🗺 to avoid getting lost. . Alxa and Zhangye, two places with endless scenery, waiting for you to explore, make your trip a beautiful encounter! 🌟

Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is a treasure trove of history! Visiting the temple is like traveling back in time to the Western Xia Dynasty. Despite the passage of time, the temple still exudes a unique charm. Every brick, tile, plant, and tree tells a story of the past, waiting for you to listen. The temple's main attraction is the giant reclining Buddha statue in the Great Buddha Hall. The statue is 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide at the shoulders. The Buddha's serene expression and half-closed eyes seem to gaze down upon the world. The statue is so large that a person could lie down on one of its fingers, and ten people could sit side by side on one of its ears. The scale of the statue is truly awe-inspiring! In addition to the reclining Buddha, the hall also features statues of the ten disciples, the eighteen arhats, and murals depicting scenes from Journey to the West and Classic of Mountains and Seas. Each piece is a masterpiece! The biggest surprise is the Buddhist History Exhibition Hall behind the Great Buddha Hall, which houses a replica of the "Golden Pagoda Temple" special cave. The Golden Pagoda Temple Grottoes are a masterpiece of the Northern Liang period and are known as the "special cave among special caves." The replica cave features a central pagoda-style cave with three tiers of niches on each side, filled with lifelike clay and stone sculptures of Buddhas, bodhisattvas, disciples, and flying deities. The sculptures' thin, soft clothing and smooth, flowing lines convey a sense of devotion and craftsmanship from a thousand years ago. It's truly a journey through time! The architecture of the Giant Buddha Temple blends various cultural elements, offering a sense of history and cultural fusion. Strolling along the temple's paths or sitting quietly in front of the hall brings a moment of peace to the soul. 📍Address: No. 64, Giant Buddha Temple Lane, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City (also known as No. 28, Minzhu West Street, Ganzhou District, or Giant Buddha Temple Lane, Minzhu West Street, Ganzhou District). 💴Tickets: ✅Adult ticket: CNY 40 per person. ✅Student ticket: CNY 20 per person. Full-time primary, secondary, and university students (excluding adult education and graduate students) can purchase tickets with a student ID or school introduction letter. ✅Free admission: Children 1.2 meters and under; seniors aged 70 and over with a senior citizen card or ID card. ✅Discounts: Seniors aged 60 to 69 with a senior citizen card or ID card; people with disabilities with a disability certificate; active military personnel with a military officer certificate.

#chinatraveltips Zhangye Great Buddha Temple, located in Great Buddha Temple Lane, Minzhu West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, is a Buddhist temple with a history of nearly a thousand years.It was founded in the first year of Yong'an, Chongzong of Western Xia. It was originally named "Gaye Tathagata Temple”, and later renamed "Baojue Temple” and "Hongren Temple". It was not named “Great Buddha Temple” until the Ming Dynasty. Historical background and cultural significance. Zhangye Great Buddha Temple is not only an important carrier of Buddhist culture, but also carries a deep historical background and religious beliefs.The main hall of the temple enshrines a huge reclining Buddha with a length of tens of meters, carved from a whole poplar wood, with a realistic shape, showing the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. In addition, the temple also preserves a large number of Buddhist classics and precious Buddha statues, such as Shakyamuni Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, Guanyin Bodhisattva, etc. These Buddha statues have different shapes and expressions, which together constitute a solemn and sacred Buddhist world. Architectural features and main attractions The architectural style of Zhangye Great Buddha Temple is unique. The main building, the Great Buddha Hall, adopts a traditional wooden structure, and the roof is covered with glazed tiles, which is solemn and elegant. The Great Buddha Hall enshrines the largest existing indoor clay reclining Buddha in China-the statue of Sakyamuni Nirvana. The Buddha has a length of 35 meters and a shoulder width of 7.5 meters. The shape is plump and beautiful, the gold makeup is painted, the face is covered with gold, and the right side is lying down, with a quiet and serene expression. In addition, there are buildings such as the Tibetan Sutra Pavilion and the earthen pagoda in the temple. A large number of Buddhist classics are preserved in the Tibetan Sutra Pavilion, and the earthen pagoda is the iconic building of the temple. Travel information The Zhangye Great Buddha Temple Scenic Area covers an area of more than 30,000 square meters and is one of the largest and most preserved Western Xia royal monasteries in the country. Scenic area has the largest Western Xia Buddhist building in the country, the Great Buddha Hall, the largest indoor wooden tire clay sculpture reclining Buddha in Asia, and the most complete first-engraved and first-printed copy of "Daming Sanzang Holy Sect Beizang" in China, with a collection of more than 10,000 precious cultural relics of all kinds. Scenic area is open to the public from 07:00-18:30 every day, and the transportation is convenient. There are many bus lines nearby.

Location: Located in Dafo Temple Lane, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province, the geographical location is easy to find. History: This temple has a long history, dating back to the first year of Yong'an in the Western Xia Dynasty (1098), nearly a thousand years ago! Walking through it is like traveling through time and space, feeling the traces of history left on every brick and stone, and every Buddha statue. It is an important historical site on the Silk Road, bearing the memory of cultural exchanges between the East and the West in ancient times. Wonder: The most amazing thing in the temple is the huge reclining Buddha. When you walk into the Great Buddha Hall and see the reclining Buddha for the first time, the shock is really beyond words. The Great Buddha sleeps there, with a peaceful expression, 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide, and its ears alone are more than 2 meters long. The Buddha statue is well-proportioned, beautifully shaped, and the details show the superb skills of ancient craftsmen. There are also many colored sculptures such as the ten disciples and the eighteen arhats around the reclining Buddha, each of which is lifelike, as if guarding the Great Buddha. Architecture: The architectural style of Dafo Temple is also unique. The entire temple is well laid out and the halls are magnificent. From the simple mountain gate to the solemn Great Buddha Hall, to other auxiliary halls, red walls and green tiles, flying eaves and bucket arches, every place shows the elegance of traditional architecture. The wooden structure of the building exudes a simple atmosphere, and the sunlight shines on it, with mottled light and shadow, like a natural picture.

I thought Dunhuang was already amazing, but Zhangye is the real hidden gem of the Hexi Corridor. I even canceled my other plans for it. Zhangye, formerly known as Ganzhou, is one of the four counties in the Hexi Corridor. I won't go into its history, but it has many cultural and natural attractions. Cultural attractions include the Giant Buddha Temple, Mati Temple Grottoes, Jinta Temple Grottoes, and Manjusri Temple Grottoes. Natural attractions include the Rainbow Mountains, Pingshanhu Grand Canyon, Balz Snow Mountain, and Shandan Horse Ranch. Itinerary recommendations: Day 1: Mati Temple Grottoes + Rainbow Mountains For culture lovers, I recommend Mati Temple Grottoes + Jinta Temple. For nature lovers, I recommend Mati Temple Grottoes + Rainbow Mountains. Mati Temple Grottoes were first built during the Five Liang period. Unfortunately, they were destroyed, but they are beautiful in all seasons. Climb the Thirty-Three Heavens Grottoes to experience the hard work of ancient people and enjoy the snow-capped Qilian Mountains. It's worth the ticket price. The Rainbow Mountains are more beautiful in summer and fall, especially after the rain. I recommend going in the evening for softer light. There are four viewing platforms, and I found 2, 3, and 4 to be the most beautiful. Day 2: Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple + Museum I highly recommend the Giant Buddha Temple, as it's the only Western Xia temple in China. The main hall is mysterious and solemn. The main hall has a wooden clay sculpture of the reclining Buddha Shakyamuni, the largest indoor reclining Buddha in China. Behind the Buddha are the ten disciples, and on both sides are the eighteen arhats. The walls are carved with murals of Journey to the West and Classic of Mountains and Seas. The Zhangye Museum doesn't have much to see. I recommend going to the Gansu Museum in Lanzhou. If you have more time in Zhangye, I suggest visiting Pingshanhu Grand Canyon. Tips: Shandan Horse Ranch: Unfortunately, it's closed in winter and spring. I recommend going in summer to see the horses bathing. Hotels are cheap in the off-season, and I ate beef and lamb every day. Gansu's attractions are scattered, so I recommend joining a tour or renting a car to save time.

Zhangye was formerly known as Ganzhou, and Jiuquan was formerly known as Suzhou. This is where the name of Gansu Province comes from, and it also shows the historical importance of these two cities. Walking around the streets of Zhangye, we planned to go to the Big Buddha Temple. Halfway there, there was a square where loud ethnic music was playing. We followed the sound and saw many Uyghurs in festive costumes singing and dancing, and they kept inviting passersby to join in. It was very lively. Right in the middle of the square, we looked up and saw this wooden pagoda. We hadn't done any research beforehand, so this was quite a surprise. We thought: this pagoda is so beautiful and delicate, and it's also very spectacular. When we saw that the corners of the house were all carved with dragons holding bells, we thought this pagoda must be of high standard. We looked at the pagoda's inscription and sure enough, it was an ancient building. It was first built during the Northern Zhou Dynasty and has been rebuilt and repaired through the Sui, Tang, Ming, and Qing Dynasties. The current one was built during the Republic of China period and has a history of more than 190 years. The wooden pagoda is designed with bucket arches. It is said to have been built because of the acquisition of Sakyamuni's relics. There is a bell on the top of the pagoda. The "wooden pagoda and sparse bell" was once one of the eight scenic spots in Ganzhou. Unfortunately, we didn't hear it. However, just admiring the exterior of the wooden pagoda was a pleasant surprise.

Zhangye City is located in the northwest of Gansu Province, in the middle section of the Hexi Corridor. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty established Zhangye County here and named it Zhangye for "Zhangye, which connects the country's arm to the Western Regions". Zhangye in the Western Wei Dynasty was renamed Ganzhou. It is an important town on the ancient Silk Road and a thoroughfare of the new Eurasian Continental Bridge. It is known as "Jiangnan on the Great Wall" and "Golden Zhangye". Throughout its long history, this small northwestern city has witnessed the rise and fall of countless dynasties and left behind many precious cultural heritages. 🎉This time I spent a day checking in at several must-see attractions in Zhangye. Come and experience the charm of this treasure tourist destination with me! 1. Wooden Pagoda Temple A Buddhist building with a long history, the most famous building in the temple is the 32.8-meter-high wooden pagoda, which has 8 sides and 9 levels, each of which is decorated with wooden dragon heads containing jewels and hanging wind chimes. The tower body adopts the mortise and tenon structure of red pine logs, without any iron nails, which fully demonstrates the exquisite craftsmanship and outstanding creativity of the ancients. 2. Hsi Lai Temple Xilai Temple is the seat of Zhangye Buddhist Association. According to the "Ganzhou Prefecture Records", Xilai Temple was first built in the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming Dynasty under the name "Ciyu Jingshe". Xilai Temple is unique among the many temples in Zhangye. It is not only a Tantric temple (the vast majority of temples in Zhangye are of the Exoteric school), but also has a profound historical heritage and rich cultural connotations. Although it is open to the public for free, it is not well-known and has few tourists, making it a quiet place waiting for those who are interested to come. 3. Zhangye Museum The museum houses more than 11,000 historical relics, bringing together a large number of cultural treasures from ancient times to modern times, including grid-patterned double-eared painted pottery jars, bronze elks from the Warring States Period (also known as the four-legged beasts we call them), and tortoise and crane thousand-year-old bronze tobacco bottles, which are national first-class cultural relics. 4. Big Buddha Temple Built during the Western Xia period, the temple houses a gigantic statue of Sakyamuni entering Nirvana, which is 34.5 meters long and is the largest existing indoor reclining Buddha in China. The Big Buddha Temple has been the family temple of the royal family for generations. It is said that Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, was born in the Zhangye Big Buddha Temple, and his mother, Empress Dowager Beji, was also buried in the Big Buddha Temple after her death. In addition to the giant Buddha, the temple also preserves a Shanxi Guild Hall with a history of 300 years. The guild hall not only witnessed the era when Shanxi merchants in the Qing Dynasty started trade exchanges in Zhangye and promoted the economic prosperity of Zhangye, but also witnessed the historical changes and development of Zhangye culture.

🔥Original name: Kasyapa Tathagata Temple, also known as "Reclining Buddha Temple" due to the enshrined statue of Shakyamuni Buddha in Nirvana, it is a temple built by imperial decree throughout the dynasties. Among its three renowned features: 🎈The most complete Xixia temple complex in China 🎈The largest indoor reclining Buddha in Asia 🎈The most complete collection of the Northern Canon of Tibetan Buddhism. ☀️After the Xixia built the Reclining Buddha Temple, Zhangye Dafo Temple served as one of the central temples of Tibetan Buddhism in Hexi Corridor for a long time. The scriptures recited were mainly in Tibetan. In the late Ming Dynasty, Han Buddhism gradually became dominant, and Tibetan scriptures were no longer widely used. Most of the Tibetan scriptures preserved today are the scriptures enshrined in the belly of the Reclining Buddha. 🌟🌟🌟In addition to the super large reclining Buddha in the main hall, there are also murals of the Twenty-Four Devas Paying Homage to Buddha painted in the Qing Dynasty, statues of the Eighteen Arhats, murals from the Ming and Qing Dynasties such as "Journey to the West", "Investiture of the Gods", and "Classic of Mountains and Seas". In particular, the "Journey to the West" mural predates the book by about 200 years. Photography is not allowed inside the hall📷🚫 You can search for images online, it is worth a closer look. 🗺✌tips: A guide is a must! It is recommended to share a guide if there are few people. You can use an electronic guide, understanding the origin of a culture is truly reaching there. Those who like metaphysics can also have the opportunity to participate, hahaha believe in science🧐 📍🎫Tickets 🎈Zhangye Dafo Temple Peak Season Adult Ticket💰￥38 🎈Free Ticket (70 years old and above)💰￥0 🎈Zhangye Dafo Temple Peak Season Half-Price Ticket 6-18 years old, 60-69 years old can purchase💰￥20

Zhangye Dafo Temple was first built in the first year of Yong'an during the Xixia Dynasty (1098 AD). It is a national AAAA-level tourist attraction. The following is a detailed introduction to Zhangye Dafo Temple: - Historical Origin: Formerly known as Kasyapa Tathagata Temple, it was named Baojue Temple by imperial decree in the ninth year of the Yongle reign of the Ming Dynasty (1411). In the seventeenth year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1678), it was renamed Hongren Temple by imperial decree. Due to the presence of a giant reclining Buddha statue within the temple, it is known as Dafo Temple. - Geographical Location: Located at No. 28, Minzhu West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province. It covers an area of approximately 23,000 square meters and faces west. - Architectural Features: Currently, only the buildings on the central axis remain, including the Dafo Hall, Scripture Pavilion, and Earthen Pagoda. The Dafo Hall is the most important building in the temple. Inside the hall is the largest indoor wood-and-clay reclining Buddha statue in China. The Buddha statue is 34.5 meters long and 7.5 meters wide. It is exquisitely crafted and grand in scale. The Hall of Ten Thousand Saints and the Scripture Pavilion house the Buddhist Art Exhibition Hall and the Buddhist Scripture Exhibition Hall, respectively. They display numerous Buddhist sculptures, cave sculptures, scriptures, and sutras. The Earthen Pagoda is over thirty meters tall. The pagoda base has two levels, each with four smaller pagodas. The design is exquisite, and the pagoda houses several Buddha statues. The Shanxi Guild Hall is a typical northwestern residential courtyard. The ancient building features carved beams and painted pillars, and it is very simple and beautiful. - Cultural Value: The temple houses the largest Xixia Buddhist hall in China, the Dafo Hall, and the largest indoor wood-and-clay reclining Buddha statue in Asia. It also houses the most complete first-edition printed copy of the Tripitaka Koreana, and over 10,000 precious cultural relics. In 1995, it became a patriotic education base in Gansu Province. In 1996, it was listed as a fourth-batch national key cultural relics protection unit. In 2018, it was included in the "Top 100 Scenic Spots in Northwest China" list. - Opening Hours: All year round, 08:30 - 18:30 (ticket sales stop at 18:00, park closes at 18:30). - Ticket Price: 40 yuan/person, free for children under 1.2 meters and seniors over 70 years old, students can purchase half-price tickets with student ID.

Walking through the ancient halls of Zhangye's Giant Buddha Temple, the weight of history seems to transcend time and space. The royal style and the beauty of tranquility complement each other, and the reclining Buddha lies there peacefully, like a wise man, quietly telling a thousand-year-old legendary story. Standing here, the hustle and bustle of the world seems to be far away, and the soul has gained unprecedented tranquility in the solemn atmosphere. Although life is always busy, the tranquility and solemnity at this moment make me cherish it even more, as if I have found the home of my heart. 📍Gansu·Zhangye·Giant Buddha Temple

We planned to go to Zhangye for a trip at 4 pm, so we went to the Big Buddha Temple in the city first, and then took a taxi there. It is about 40km away from the city. The Big Buddha Temple is mainly for seeing the reclining Buddha, but it has been under maintenance recently, and there are steel frames, which slightly affects the visit. 👀 🎫Tickets: Price: 40 yuan/person Online ticket purchase: 38 yuan/person Visitors holding valid ID cards such as student ID cards and senior citizen ID cards can enjoy discounts ⏰Opening hours: Winter (November 1 to March 31) 8:30-17:30 Summer (April 1 to October 31) 8:00-18:00 🚕Transportation: Taking a taxi from anywhere in the city to the Big Buddha Temple costs about 10-20 yuan and the journey takes no more than 10 minutes. 👀Main highlights: Mountain Gate: Enter the scenic area and visit the solemn mountain gate with the big characters "Dafo Temple" hanging on it. ·Great Buddha Hall: The core building, housing China's largest indoor clay reclining Buddha, where you can experience Buddhist culture. Murals: Buddhist stories and figures are painted on the walls of the Reclining Buddha Hall in bright colors, giving you an understanding of ancient Buddhist art. · Pagoda and Buddhist Scripture Collection Hall: The towering pagoda enshrines relics, and the Buddhist Scripture Collection Hall houses precious Buddhist scriptures and cultural relics. Zhangye Dafo Temple Scenic Area is not a popular online attraction, but with these rich relics, you will also look at the city of Zhangye with new eyes✌🏻

Giant Buddha Temple is located in the center of Zhangye Old Town. As one of the most iconic buildings in the city, it is the only surviving national temple of the Western Xia Dynasty and boasts the largest indoor reclining Buddha in Asia! However, it is not isolated, but adjacent to residential areas, where it has been accompanied by the strong atmosphere of life for centuries, calmly walking from history to the future. Giant Buddha Temple was built in 1098 during the Yong'an reign of Emperor Chongzong of the Western Xia Dynasty. Originally named Kasyapa Tathagata Temple, it was also known as "Reclining Buddha Temple" because it housed a statue of the Buddha in nirvana. It is said that the national master of the Western Xia Dynasty, Wei Mei, heard the sound of silk and bamboo instruments while meditating. He dug three feet into the ground following the sound and found a reclining Buddha covered with green tiles. A temple was built to commemorate this event. Although it is a temple, it is more like a Buddhist art museum with architecture, sculptures, murals, carvings, scriptures, paintings, and cultural relics. The couplet at the entrance reads: "The reclining Buddha sleeps for a thousand years and never wakes up. The questioner asks for a hundred generations and never understands." It is full of Zen and explains life. In the 1970s, Chinese archaeologists discovered five silver coins under the temple base of Giant Buddha Temple. These silver coins came from the Sassanid Dynasty of Persia and have become important evidence of ancient trade and economic exchanges between China and the West. Zhangye also has a large Muslim population, and Muslim culture has become part of the city through long-term integration. For example, the Nanguan Mosque on Renmin South Street is a typical Muslim building. As an important hub on the Silk Road, cultures from different countries and ethnicities collided and integrated in Zhangye, forming a unique multicultural landscape. In addition to architecture, the most direct form of expression is food. Zhangye's food is unforgettable, including niangpi (wheat jelly), saozi noodles, freshly made yogurt, braised meat with fried cannon, stir-fried bolapula (a type of noodle), fish noodle, beef rice, steamed bread, bean curd skin, chicken roll, and fish roe. For food lovers, this is definitely a place to satisfy your stomach! In front of food, everyone is an ordinary diner. Whenever the stove is lit, the unique and familiar taste of Zhangye allows everyone's stomach to enjoy a feast, and gives local people a more complete sense of identity. In Zhangye, every diner's happiness can come from a bowl of fish roe or a bowl of stir-fried bolapula. The following foods are: fish roe, freshly made yogurt, braised meat with fried cannon

Zhangye Big Buddha Temple is very famous and is the most worth-seeing attraction in Zhangye's main urban area. The reclining Buddha and murals in the Big Buddha Hall are both national key cultural relics protection units. They are huge in scale, with a history of nearly a thousand years, and are extremely precious. Many tourists left after visiting the Great Buddha Hall, admiring the murals and taking pictures of the White Pagoda behind the hall. I thought I had finished my visit to the Big Buddha Temple. In fact, there is a small courtyard to the north of the Big Buddha Pagoda. It is the Shanxi Guild Hall, which is also an ancient building with a long history. The building is very beautiful and worth a visit. Shanxi Guild Hall is a typical northwestern residential house. The ancient building has carved beams and painted pillars, and is very simple and beautiful. Shanxi Guild Hall consists of four parts: accommodation area, entertainment area, business and meeting area and Guandi Temple. The entire building complex has a rigorous layout and a symmetrical central axis, reflecting the characteristics of ancient Chinese architecture. The most eye-catching is the Grand Theater, which is a "star" building of the guild hall. It is built of square stone slabs, with exquisite structure and majestic appearance. The deity enshrined in the Shanxi Guild Hall is Guan Yu, and the plaque in the Guandi Temple reads "A Real Man", which was written by Yan Xishan. This plaque is also rare. There is a teahouse on the first floor of the ancient building on the central axis of Shanxi Guild Hall, where you can sit down, rest and drink tea. If you go there at around four or five in the evening, you can sit in the Shanxi Guild Hall and drink tea after your visit, watching the sun go down little by little. The shadows of the ancient buildings fall on the ground little by little, and the halo wanders between the eaves and corners. You will really feel like you don't know what day it is.

This article is enough for Zhangye nanny-level humanities-oriented guide! |||During the fourteen months of traveling in the northwest, I have long been a little tired of the noodles in the northwest, but Zhangye is the only one among the four counties in Hexi that I will never forget. ✨Because this small city on the Hexi Corridor carries too many historical memories - from the "Jinta Temple", the only remaining high-flesh Feitian grotto in the country hanging on the cliff, to the "Big Buddha Temple", the royal temple in the Western Xia Dynasty; Here you can see the "Yugu", the only ethnic group of Turkic people who still believe in Buddhism, and you can also see the vast "Qilian Mountains" like a falling skyline. If you go deeper to the north, you will be shocked and deeply impressed by the rammed earth ancient city ruins of "Camel City" and "Xu Sanwan" through aerial photography. - Scenic spots far away from the city are written in separate notes. Here we only describe the strategies within the city, which are exclusive to the city walk party~ 【🔥Attractions】: ✨Zhangye Museum: A national second-level museum, the entire museum is divided into four exhibition halls, which systematically narrates the history of Zhangye since ancient times. The most exciting one is naturally Zhangye during the Western Han Dynasty! As the era when the four counties in Hexi were established across the ages, following the explanation, you can most intuitively understand how hard-won the establishment of Zhangye County was. ✨Big Buddha Temple: The most important scenic spot in Zhangye city! The complete largest reclining Buddha in the Western Xia Dynasty, one of the few "Journey to the West" murals in the country, and two high-level historical relics exhibition halls are worthy of setting aside a chapter for him. ✨Zhangye Guild Hall: During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, Shanxi merchants came all the way to build a gathering place in Zhangye. It was built in the second year of Yongzheng in the Qing Dynasty. The building is the original structure of the Qing Dynasty. The Minqin Guild Hall was built in the 18th year of Guangxu's reign, and both are listed as the sixth batch of cultural relics protection units in the country. 【🔥Gourmet articles】: ✨Heshunyuan: I really love it, and it can be ranked as one of the two treasure shops alongside Huanghong Restaurant! In the morning when the chill is still strong, have a bowl of spicy and fragrant noodles, or pair it with two steamed buns if you want a big meal, it is a delicacy that countless people in Zhangye can't stop eating. ✨Dongji Beef Rice: The most famous beef rice in Zhangye. It is crowded with people every morning. You can try it. ✨Huanghong Restaurant: It is also one of the hidden treasure shops! Their price-performance ratio is really super high. The fried beef and fish roe is a must-order for me every time I go there. I can hardly finish one portion by myself. The beef is the best I have ever eaten in Zhangye. The portions of mixed noodles and soy noodles are also quite large, enough to satisfy one person~ ✨Ming and Qing Night Market: Compared to Ganzhou Alley, this is my favorite night market! It is crowded with people and full of fireworks since the sun goes down. Several of the most famous Chai Po La and "Sun Kee Chao Pao" are here, so they are not to be missed. [city walk one-day tour route🔥🔥]: Heshunyuan → Xixia Buddhist Temple → Shanxi Guild Hall → Yellow and Red Restaurant (only open at noon) → Zhangye Museum → Muta Temple → Zhangye Zhenyuan Drum Tower → Ming and Qing Night Market → End of the trip. Of course, there are many itineraries that can be substituted in between. For those with a big appetite, the soy noodles and beef rice are both worth trying!

✨Dear friends, today I'm going to share with you the ultimate guide for a 3-day 2-night trip to Zhangye, making it easy for you to explore Zhangye. 📌Itinerary: 🎈Day: Kangle Grassland + Colorful Danxia 10:30 Arrive in Zhangye, the driver will warmly pick you up, then head to Kangle Grassland. 12:00 Enjoy lunch at a local farm in the scenic area, then drive into the grassland to experience the boundless grassland scenery. 17:00 Start the return journey, then head to Colorful Danxia, buy tickets at the north gate, the dazzling colors are truly amazing. 20:40 Return to the city for dinner. 🎈Day: Giant Buddha Temple + Mati Temple + Jinta Temple + Ming and Qing Street 8:00 Visit the Giant Buddha Temple, feel the tranquility and historical depth. 11:00 Lunch in the city, then take a car to Mati Temple. 13:00 Arrive at Mati Temple, buy tickets on-site, and experience the strong religious atmosphere. 17:00 Drive to Jinta Temple, the scenery along the way is breathtaking. 20:00 Return to the city and treat yourself to a hot pot dinner. 21:30 Continue to Ming and Qing Street for more eating and shopping, the fun never stops. 🎈Day: Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon 8:00 Take a car to start the adventure. 9:30 Buy tickets on-site, feel the wonders of nature. 14:00 Return to the city for lunch, remember to have a hearty breakfast. 18:00 Take the train home, ending the wonderful journey. 💰Costs: 🎈Day: Car rental for four people 360, lunch for five people 260, Kangle ticket 30/person, horse riding 50/person, Danxia ticket 92/person, dinner 30/person. 🎈Day: Giant Buddha Temple 38/person, lunch for four people 150, car rental for four people 400, Mati Temple ticket 74/person, dinner for four people 350. 🎈Day: Car rental for four people 230, Grand Canyon deep tour 318/person, archery experience 10, lunch for four people 170. 🎈Accommodation for four people, two rooms for two nights 560, other expenses for water, snacks, small gifts about 100/person. 🎈Total 1300/person, quite cost-effective. 💖Feelings: 🎈Kangle Grassland: Definitely a summer resort, full of ethnic characteristics, and few people, you can fully enjoy the tranquility of the grassland. 🎈Colorful Danxia: The rich colors are stunning, but it's a bit sunny and crowded. 🎈Giant Buddha Temple: Although small, it has a huge Buddha statue, you need some knowledge to better appreciate its charm, few people and very quiet. 🎈Mati Temple: You can feel the power of faith, the experience is great, but you might need to queue for a while. 🎈Jinta Temple along the way: Full of unknowns, the beauty of nature is intoxicating, also a good place to escape the heat, few people and beautiful scenery. 🎈Ming and Qing Street: Lots of delicious food, fun things, and good buys. 🎈Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon: Full of natural atmosphere, feels adventurous, quite physically demanding, but few people, you can play to your heart's content. 💕In short, Zhangye is really a great place, I hope this guide can help you, start your Zhangye journey now!😉

Zhangye gave me so many surprises! A 5-day stay, with each day being a brand new experience. 🏮Day 1: The shock of the Giant Buddha Temple, the weight of history made me feel like I traveled through a thousand years in an instant. At Zhangye Museum, even a cursory glance can make you feel the cultural accumulation. 🌈Day 2: The Rainbow Mountains, the business card of Zhangye. We left our footprints at every viewing platform. At sunset, although the crowds were overwhelming, the beautiful scenery was worth all the waiting. 🏞️Day 3: Pingshan Lake Grand Canyon, hiking the big loop, experiencing a different sense of natural participation. The tranquility at the bottom of the valley made me feel both excited and awed. 🐎Day 4: Mati Temple and Jinta Temple, we rented a car to enjoy different sceneries. The ingenuity of the Thirty-three Heavens, the utopia of Jinta Temple, every place is a blend of art and history. 🌄Day 5: Biandukou and Zhuo'er Mountain, although the weather was not good, the misty beauty of the clouds made me feel refreshed.

Zhangye Tuta hides a Ming Dynasty relic, the Trumpet Tower, in the bustling city. 👍Highly recommended: 🌟Highlights: Zhangye Tuta is located on the east side of the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye City, Gansu Province. Originally named Amitabha Thousand Buddha Pagoda, it is a mixed brick and adobe structure with a whitewashed exterior. The brick and earth structure stands 32.5 meters high and is a Tibetan Buddhist stupa. A distinctive feature is the construction of a small tower at each corner of the first and second tier bases. In 1927, the top of the tower was destroyed by an earthquake in Zhangye, and in 1986, the Zhangye cultural department restored it to its original state. The current tower is a relic from the Ming Dynasty. The Yiquan Tower consists of three parts: the base, the body, and the finial. It tapers upwards in thirteen sections, with a canopy diameter of over four meters, decorated with thirty-six copper tiles and thirty-six tassel wind chimes, bearing some resemblance to the White Pagoda in Beijing. The most unique aspect of the Tuta is the eight small lama towers on the two-tiered Sumeru base. These eight small towers are similar in shape to the main tower, surrounding it like stars around the moon. This gives the Zhangye Tuta the characteristics of a Vajra Throne Tower, but it differs from the common Vajra Throne Tower with one main tower and four small towers, representing a variant form of the Vajra Throne Tower. Those who love ancient architecture and traditional Chinese cultural history should not miss the Giant Buddha Temple in Zhangye. Travel Guide Address: No. 28, Minzhu West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province Navigation: Giant Buddha Temple, Zhangye Time: 8:00-18:30 Tickets: 40 yuan Transportation: Take bus lines 1, 11, or 13 to the Giant Buddha Temple Cultural Square

On a sunny early summer day, I arrived in Zhangye and am sharing what I have seen and heard in the city. I have already shared a guide to the Zhangye City Museum, which is a museum with very distinctive local features. Not far away is the millennium-old Giant Buddha Temple of Zhangye, how could I miss it? The Giant Buddha Temple, originally named Jia Ye Ru Lai Temple, is located in the Democratic West Street, Giant Buddha Temple Lane, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province. It was built in the first year of Yong'an of the Western Xia Dynasty (1098). The temple is also known as the 'Reclining Buddha Temple' because it houses the Nirvana statue of Sakyamuni. It was a temple built by imperial decree through the dynasties. It is also an important historical and cultural site on the Silk Road and a landmark building of the historical and cultural city of Zhangye. The temple houses the largest Western Xia Buddhist hall in the country - the Giant Buddha Hall, the largest indoor clay sculpture of a reclining Buddha, and the most complete first edition of the 'Yongle Northern Canon'. It is a Buddhist art museum that integrates architecture, sculpture, murals, carvings, scriptures, and cultural relics. The Giant Buddha Temple complex includes an archway-style mountain gate, the Hall of the Four Heavenly Kings, the Guan Shrine Hall, the Passing Hall, the Companion Hall, the side rooms, and the main hall of the Reclining Buddha. To the south of the main hall is the Responsive Temple, to the north is the Golden Pagoda Hall, and to the rear are the Golden Repository and the Earth Pagoda. As a royal family temple through the dynasties, the Giant Buddha Temple has a close relationship with the royal families of the Western Xia, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, and features a typical palace architectural style. The temple complex is arranged along a central axis running east to west, with symmetrical side halls on both sides. The entire group of buildings is unique in shape, strict in layout, prominent in theme, and clear in tone. The main building, the Giant Buddha Hall, is an outstanding representative of Western Xia architectural art. The hall is composed of two-story pavilions, with a neat and standard plane structure and a multi-faceted spatial combination, giving a sense of both natural elegance and solemn depth, both clear and distinct yet hazy and ethereal, reflecting the imperial majesty of 'supreme honor'. Inside the Giant Buddha Temple, there are Buddhist art exhibition halls and Buddhist scripture exhibition halls. The historical and artistic value it carries is a vivid history book for studying the history and culture of Zhangye, religious culture, and the integration of multiple ethnicities. It is a Buddhist art museum that integrates architecture, sculpture, murals, carvings, scriptures, and cultural relics.

Founded in the Western Xia period and built before the Ming Dynasty, it has been repaired and maintained for hundreds of years. It looks awake when viewed, but sleeps when called. Only by traveling through the three thousand worlds can one realize that this dream is true emptiness. The Zhangye Great Buddha Temple is located in the southwest corner of Zhangye City. It was originally named "Kashyapa Tathagata" Temple. In the first year of Yong'an during the reign of Emperor Chongzong of Western Xia, which is 1098 AD, a national teacher named Weimie was meditating one day when he suddenly heard the sound of silk and bamboo from the sky. Following the sound, he dug more than a zhang deep and found a jade reclining Buddha covered with golden bricks and green tiles. He reported this to the Western Xia ruler Li Qianshun, who then ordered the construction of the "Reclining Buddha Temple". The coffin of Empress Dowager Bieji, the mother of Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, was once placed here, and a temple was built for worship, called the "Cross Temple". In the ninth year of Yongle in the Ming Dynasty (1411), it was granted the name "Hongren Temple". In the second year of Xuande (1427), it was granted the name "Baojue Temple". During the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty, it was renamed "Hongren Temple". Because the temple houses a 34.5-meter-long, 7.5-meter-wide clay sculpture of the reclining Buddha Shakyamuni, it is commonly known as the "Reclining Buddha Temple" or "Great Buddha Temple". Here, you can find the largest surviving Western Xia Buddhist hall in China, the world's largest indoor wooden clay sculpture of a reclining Buddha, the rare Ming Dynasty handwritten golden scripture "Great Prajna Sutra", the most complete preserved Ming Dynasty official edition of the "Northern Canon", and tens of thousands of exquisite cultural relics. From the Western Xia to the Yuan Dynasty, this place was always a royal temple. In the early Ming Dynasty, the court attached great importance to the reconstruction and maintenance of the Reclining Buddha Temple, making it unprecedentedly large. After the delegation of King Shah Rukh of the Timurid Empire visited China in 1420, the Persian painter Gaiyasuddin Nahsh wrote in his "Record of Shah Rukh's Mission to China" that the Reclining Buddha Temple at that time was 500 meters from east to west and north to south, showing the grandeur and prosperity of the temple. The overall architecture of the Great Buddha Temple has the characteristics of palace-style official buildings. The main buildings are aligned along an east-west central axis, with symmetrical side halls and other structures. The main hall, which houses the reclining Buddha, is the central and most prominent building. The hall is rectangular in plan, with two floors, double eaves, and a hip-and-gable roof covered with green tiles, surrounded by wooden corridors. The doors and windows are carved with auspicious flowers, Buddhist mantras, stories from Buddhist scriptures, or famous paintings and calligraphy. Dozens of couplets and plaques from the Ming and Qing dynasties blend harmoniously with the overall architecture. The hall is 20.20 meters high, with nine bays from north to south and seven bays from east to west, reflecting the royal concept of "supreme power". "Founded in the Western Xia period and built before the Ming Dynasty, it has been repaired and maintained for hundreds of years. It looks awake when viewed, but sleeps when called. Only by traveling through the three thousand worlds can one realize that this dream is true emptiness." Upon entering the hall, the 34.5-meter-long reclining Buddha Shakyamuni immediately catches the eye. The reclining Buddha lies with its head to the north and feet to the south, facing west, and rests on a 1.2-meter-high lotus pedestal in the center of the hall. The statue is gilded and painted, with a gold-plated face, a lotus pillow under its head, half-closed eyes, and slightly open lips. The right hand is extended under the face, and the left hand is stretched out beside the body, with a plump and dignified appearance, and a serene and peaceful posture. The chest is adorned with a large "卐" symbol, which in Sanskrit means "auspicious sea cloud". ⛺【Must-visit local spot】: Those who love ancient architecture and traditional Chinese culture should definitely visit. It's very convenient in the city. 🛬【Travel Guide】: Zhangye Great Buddha Temple Address: No. 28 Minzhu West Street, Ganzhou District, Zhangye City, Gansu Province Opening hours: 08:00-18:30 Ticket price: 40 yuan Visiting time: 1-3 hours Transportation: Take bus 1, 11, or 13 to the Great Buddha Temple Cultural Square 🏨【Accommodation Guide】: There are many hotels around, choose according to your preference 🧡【Tips】: Zhangye city is not very large. The Zhangye Museum is right opposite the Great Buddha Temple, and the Xilai Temple is next to it. You can spend a day on a self-guided tour. Nearby, you can also visit Ganzhou Alley for some local specialties. @Community Welfare Jun @Ctrip Community Creation Center