The Giant Buddha Temple, also known as Dafo Temple or the Lying Buddha Temple, stands on Dafo Temple Lane in Ganzhou District, Zhangye, in Gansu Province, China. It is the home of one of the country's largest reclining wooden Buddha statues, which stretches 34.5 meters in length.
What you will see
- A reclining wooden Buddha, the temple's central figure, shown at great length in its resting pose.
- The temple buildings themselves, which give a sense of the religious life that has continued here.
The temple was built during the Western Xia Dynasty, in 1098, and its age is part of what draws visitors. Standing beside a statue of this length gives a sense of scale that photographs rarely capture.
Planning your visit
The temple is a good stop for anyone interested in Buddhist art or in the historic architecture of Gansu. Because the statue is the focus, a visit tends to be unhurried, with time to look closely at the figure and its surroundings. For current information on visiting, the temple can be reached by telephone at +86-936-8212049.
Zhangye itself is a city in the Hexi Corridor, and the temple can be combined with other sights in the city and its surrounding area when you plan your route through Gansu.
