Jingshan Giant Buddha

Opening Hours: Open all day

Ticket Price: 66 RMB per person

Location: Lushan County, Pingdingshan City, Henan Province

Best Visiting Season: Spring and Autumn

Complaint Hotline: 0375-4968235

Self-driving Route: The expressway linking Nanyang and Luoyang is now open. You may drive via Luanchuan and Modaling, but this road is rather dangerous. The alternative route goes through Nanzhao, Watershed and Sikeshu. It takes a longer detour but is comparatively safe.

The scenic area is situated in Shangtang of Lushan County, right beside National Highway 311. It adjoins Shiren Mountain National Scenic Area to the west, Zhaoping Lake Scenic Area to the east and Midong Villa to the south. Covering 11,700 mu, the resort follows a golden layout of "Four Scenes, Three Zones and Four Superlatives". It boasts green mountains, clear waters, elegant natural scenery and a solemn peaceful atmosphere. Standing here is the 153-metre-tall golden bronze Vairocana Buddha with a dignified and sacred appearance.

Fuquan Temple was built along the mountain terrain with magnificent momentum. On Dragon Head Peak stands the 116-ton bronze Auspicious Bell crafted with exquisite workmanship, producing a long resonant tone. The Tongtian River Valley of Liuyang Mountain inside the scenic zone features picturesque mountains and clear waters. The Heavenly Footprint, natural hot springs and cascading waterfalls add endless mystery and charm to this ancient land. The couplet reads: "On Golden Buddha Mountain stands a golden Buddha whose light shines eternally; from Fuquan Temple gushes sacred spring water nourishing mountains and rivers." Warm and hospitable Tianrui people sincerely welcome you for sightseeing. Visitors will be so captivated by the scenery that they will never want to leave.

The Golden Buddha Worship Altar is the best viewpoint to admire the giant Buddha. The eastern platform is the Altar of Blessing and Wisdom. Prayers offered here bring greater fortune and wisdom. The western platform is the Altar of Health and Longevity for a long and healthy life. The central Worship Altar makes wishes come true. The architectural design fully embodies the Buddhist charm of this sacred land. On the day the Buddha’s dome was consecrated, miraculous echoes appeared. When visitors pray right in the centre of the altar, their voices reverberate all around. This divine acoustic phenomenon is a one-of-a-kind miracle among Buddhist shrines.

The Golden Buddha leans against Buddha Capital Mountain and faces Fuquan River, guarded by Azure Dragon and White Tiger. Standing tall as if preaching Buddhist doctrines, the statue is grand and towering. The total height reaches 158 metres, including the 108-metre Buddha figure plus a 45-metre lotus and diamond throne. It ranks as the tallest standing Buddha on earth. The project was inspired by the concept of the "Five Buddhas in Five Directions" put forward by Zhao Puchu, former President of the Buddhist Association of China. Though the Longmen Grottoes also house a Vairocana Buddha, there are five major differences: the Longmen Buddha is a seated stone sculpture with broken arms and unidentifiable mudras, while this golden Buddha is a complete standing bronze statue with clearly defined hand gestures. It carries distinctive contemporary features and vividly showcases the fine traditional culture of the Chinese nation. "Golden Vairocana Buddha stands amid the Mandala of Buddha Capital Mountain." With a benevolent and solemn look that seems alive, the golden Buddha perfectly conveys the Buddhist ideal of universal salvation and enduring spiritual resonance, making it an unparalleled masterpiece. "Vairocana ranks foremost among the five Buddhas; the Mandala receives offerings across all realms."

Centring on the golden Buddha, the nearly 10,000-square-metre platform of the diamond and lotus throne is arranged into a Vairocana World. Following the directional philosophy of Vairocana Buddhism, it displays the grand scene of the Five Buddhas together with tens of thousands of Dharma protectors, Bodhisattvas, Vajras, Arhats and celestial maidens. With such a huge number of elaborately carved statues arranged strictly in accordance with Buddhist rituals, this is hailed as the world’s foremost Vairocana World.

The Auspicious Bell Tower sits on Dragon Head Peak on the north bank of the Dasha River. This place has long been a flourishing Buddhist sanctuary. During the Tang Dynasty, Fuquan Temple enjoyed great prosperity with a large community of monks. According to the Lushan County Chronicle, the temple was completely destroyed during the Huichang Persecution of Buddhism under Emperor Wuzong of the Tang Dynasty. To carry forward the age-old tradition of casting giant bronze bells in prosperous eras, the board of directors decided to create this unique Auspicious Bell.

Weighing 116 tons, the bell stands 8.108 metres high with a maximum diameter of 5.118 metres. It inherits traditional folk craftsmanship while featuring modern cultural connotations. At the top are two dragons (Pulao) carrying flaming pearls. The shoulder is decorated with 36 lotus petals. The front and back are inscribed with three large characters: Auspicious Bell. Two bronze inscriptions are carved on the sides: Left: Blessings arrive; wind and rain come in due season. Right: Peace and prosperity endure for ten thousand generations.

Four auspicious relief patterns adorn the upper part: Golden Dragons Playing with Pearls, Red Phoenix Facing the Sun, Flying Cranes Dancing, and Divine Qilin Soaring through Clouds. The waist is encircled by 56 Ruyi motifs, symbolizing the unity and good fortune of China’s 56 ethnic groups. The lower section features mountains, rivers, auspicious clouds and the sun, representing the motherland’s magnificent landscapes and blessing the continuous progress of socialist construction.

The bell bears a 666-character inscription. It narrates the history of bell casting and introduces famous ancient bells still preserved today: the 46.2-ton Yongle Bell of the Ming Dynasty, the 63-ton Bell at Beijing Drum Tower, and the 50-ton Temple Bell in Beijing. The text records: "In this millennial year, we cast this 116-ton giant bell in Shangtang of Lushan to pray for good fortune and sing praises to our times." The inscription bears distinct contemporary marks, honouring the Communist Party of China for changing the nation’s destiny and governing the motherland, as well as Comrade Jiang Zemin’s important thought of the Three Represents.

The bell was cast locally and hoisted onto its frame. The project timeline: Approval on May 19, 2000; construction starting on June 15; workshop completion on July 26; moulding beginning on September 25; pouring finished at 16:45 on December 20; hoisting completed on December 28. It first rang twenty-one times at zero hour on January 1, 2001.

On January 16, 2004, a national expert panel organized by the Pingdingshan Municipal Government completed the appraisal. The conclusion confirmed that this is the world’s heaviest externally struck bronze bell, with smooth surface, clear characters and patterns, precise dimensions and well-proportioned alloy composition. It delivers a deep resonant tone with a prolonged, powerful reverberation. On June 19, the bell was officially submitted for the Guinness World Record and successfully obtained the certification