Home of the Buddha
14 Apr 2015 CNA
The Spring Temple Buddha (Zhongyuan Buddha) is surrounded by lush mountains in a picturesque setting, making it a tourist hotspot that combines cultural heritage and natural scenery.
Located in central China, Henan province is where the oldest and most prominent religion in China, Buddhism, was first introduced to the Chinese. Henan plays an important role in Buddhist history in the country and is the centre of major Buddhism pilgrimage sites.
It is therefore no coincidence that the tallest Buddha Statue, Zhongyuan Buddha, or Spring Temple Buddha, was also built in Henan. While situated a distance from the city, some 50km to the west of Lushan county in Pingdingshan, it is still easily accessible by road. The area that’s amidst the Fodushan Scenic Area, is just off the intersection of the National Highway (number 311) that connects Lushan to Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan province. This is a spot worth making a trip to even for those who aren’t Buddhists as the view of the statue and the surrounding area is breath-taking.
Zhongyuan Buddha
The Spring Temple Buddha (Zhongyuan Buddha) is a representation of the Vairocana Buddha, representing wisdom and emptiness, and is regarded as the main Buddha representation in Chinese Buddhism.
The statue stands close to the Fodushan Scenic Area and is surrounded by lush mountains. The site is a picturesque setting, making it a tourist hotspot that combines cultural heritage and natural scenery. Make the trip as it is a visit that’s amazing too, in terms of engineering.
The towering Buddha stands at 153m and is the tallest statue in the world, dwarfing the Liberty Statue in New York by 60 metres.
The structure includes a lotus throne that is placed on a pedestal. Surrounding it, the hill on which the statue stands, has amazingly been reshaped to form two further pedestals. With the pedestals all taken into account, the statue stands at a total height of 208m and can be seen from a great distance, shimmering in the sunlight.
Constructed over 12 years at a cost of more than a billion Chinese Yuan, the statue includes 108kg of gold, so all that glimmers is indeed gold!
Opt for the full entry tickets at the park that will allow you a chance to go up close to touch the Buddha’s feet, if you’re tall enough!
But be warned, there will be many stairs to climb.
Those who are short of time, or stamina, can pay extra for a bus ride and the elevator trip to explore the area around and under the statue.
Prayerful and Awe-inspiring
When seen from afar, the Buddha rises above the temple and is flanked by mountains, giving it a sacred feel. Move up for a closer look, and the Buddha presents a majestic and peaceful look, offering a feeling of serenity despite being a structure of a giant with an eye that’s tall and wide enough for three people to walk through abreast comfortably. Since the statue and the area are rather exposed, a visit in late Spring and early Summer is ideal. Bundle up well if you happen to visit the place in winter. And for such a visit, you will be rewarded with a different view of the Buddha, draped in a snow-capped top and a white path leading to the statue, as if the site is shrouded in holiness.
But this is not just an awe-inspiring statue. The Buddha rests on a monastery and against the backdrop of the Foquan Temple that stands at the foot of the hill. Surrounding it as well, are prayer altars, with various parts divided to receive different blessings. The east is “the Altar of Luck and Wisdom”, while the west is “the Altar of Health and Longevity”. In the centre, you can pray for success in all the undertakings that you are embarking on.
Foquan Temple and Good Luck Bell
After viewing the Buddha statue, pay a visit to the nearby Foquan Temple. Built during the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD), the temple has more than 1,300 years of history. It’s compact sized and remains a functioning temple for monks and pilgrims alike. Take a look inside the temple and its surrounding area where you will find the Jixiang Zhong, or Bell of Good Luck. Again, size does matter here.
The bell is 8.1m tall, 20mm thick and weighs 116 tonnes, putting it into the Guinness Book of Records as the largest bronze bell in the world. For a 100Yuan donation, visitors can ring the bell that was cast on New Year’s Day. The deep chime of the bell travels so far that people several kilometres away can hear its resonance.
It is also picture perfect as the bell is on top of the Dragon Head Peak, which is at the north bank of the Dashahe River that flows by.
Hot Springs
The Spring Temple Buddha derives its name from the nearby Foquan Spring, also called Tianrui hot spring. With a temperature of 64°C and 20 types of microelements in the water, it’s renowned in the area for its healing properties. If too much stair-climbing has left you with aching legs, this will be a welcome respite. Pop in to the modern-looking Yaoshan Fuquan hot spring complex just next to the temple. Those who prefer to enjoy a relaxing hot spring bath, check in at either pair of two 5-star hotels in the area that offer world-class accommodations, entertainment and business facilities, as well as hot spring baths.
The Spring Temple Buddha Scenic Spot that opens 8am-6pm daily, is a 5A National Scenic Spot, the highest level accredited by China’s National Tourism Administration based on criteria that includes ease of transportation and cleanliness. It takes about two hours to travel by road and if you choose to stay more than a day, you could also explore Yaoshan National Park that’s 40km away or the nearby Zhaoping Lake Park.
Very insightful read! Thank you on your inspirational posts! May all beings on this page be blessed with insightful clearmindedness and inspiring openheartedness!