[2025 Binzhou Attraction] Travel Guide for Xianyang Binxian County Grand Buddha Temple (Updated Jun)

Must-Visit Attractions✨ 1️⃣ ​Dafosi Grottoes · A Pearl of the Silk Road​ ✨Highlights:❤️ The 20-meter-tall Tang Dynasty Buddha shines golden under the sunlight, and every finger of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin statue is exquisitely detailed to the point of tears. Standing before the cliff of this World Heritage site instantly transports you back to the Silk Road era walked by Xuanzang. 💔User Concerns Solved: Worried the attraction is too far? It’s just 10 km west of the county town! Super convenient for self-driving or taxis. 2️⃣ ​Shilang Lake · The Plateau’s Blue Tears​ ✨Magical Experience:❤️ While boating, a mysterious waterline suddenly appears on the lake surface; locals say it’s a built-in weather forecast. Fish for cold-water fish on the 370-acre natural lake, with autumn’s colorful forests perfectly reflected in the water. 💔User Concerns Solved:💔 Worried about photo spots? The lake pavilion + lakeside boardwalk + glass viewing platform make it easy to snap stunning shots📸. 3️⃣ ​Chengjia Chuan · The No.1 Feng Shui Village​ ✨Must-Check-In: Qing Dynasty ancient residences look like ink paintings; wear Hanfu and take time-travel photos in the bluestone alleyways. Pick indigo plants recorded in the Book of Songs yourself to make botanical tie-dye. 💔User Concerns Solved:🧡 Worried about commercialism? Even the small shops are hidden in century-old houses, so naturally authentic it’s heartwarming! 4️⃣ ​Guisha Mountain · The Xuanwu Wonder​ ✨Exclusive Activity:❣️ Drone views of Jinghe Gorge reveal a natural Bagua pattern of entwined turtle and snake. Drift down the river amid full autumn red leaves; the thrill rivals Zhangjiajie’s glass plank road. 💔User Concerns Solved:0‍🩹 Worried about difficult mountain paths? The newly built Rainbow Trail is super kid-friendly👶. 5️⃣ ​Binzhou Post Station · Foodie Heaven​ ✨Foodie Paradise: Bite into Binzhou Guokui bigger than your face at the Tang-style post station, and break open hot Youxuanzi to reveal flowing sugar filling. Hidden tip: Pair the royal noodles with Huanggui persimmon jam, a divine sweet and sour combo that cuts the grease. 💔User Concerns Solved:0‍🩹 Worried about high prices? Snacks average 5-10 yuan here, a dream for students! 📸Photo Guide: ▫️Dafosi is most beautiful at 4 PM with perfect light and shadow ▫️Stay in a starry tent at Shilang Lake to shoot the Milky Way ▫️Chengjia Chuan at 6 AM offers misty beauty with cooking smoke0‍🩹

route: D1 Xi'an - Binzhou Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda - Binzhou Big Buddha Temple - Changwu Zhaoren Temple - Nanshi Grottoes - Live in Longqi Valley D2 Longxi Valley - Wanjiangou - Beishiku Temple - Qingyang Museum - Zhouzuling - Qingzhou Ancient City D3 Longdong Middle School-Zhou Jiubang-Qingcheng Museum-Longdong Ancient Stone Carving Art Museum-Return Transportation: Chenzhou East Station - Kaiyuan Temple Tower, take bus No. 5 on the left side of the station, 2 yuan, get off at Municipal People's Hospital Station in 20 minutes Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda - Dafo Temple, bus No. 3, 3 yuan, 25 minutes, get off at Dafo Temple Dafo Temple - Changwu Zhaoren Temple, first take bus 3 for 2 yuan to the terminal station Tingkou, then take the shuttle bus from Tingkou to Changwu for 1 yuan Zhaoren Temple - Nanshikusi Temple, take Changwu Bus No. 3 to Fengkou, then take the bus from Fengkou to Jingchuan for 8 yuan, get off at Nanshikusi intersection Nanshiku Temple - Longqi Valley, wait for the bus from Jingchuan to Libao at Nanshiku intersection, and walk 10 kilometers after getting off the bus Beishiku Temple - Qingyang, wait for the bus from Zhenyuan to Qingyang at the temple gate, wave frequently, there is parking for private cars for free or 10 yuan Qingyang-Qingcheng, do not take the high-speed rail, take the bus from the bus station, it takes 1.5 hours to arrive Transportation in Qingcheng: You can basically walk to the Zhouzu Mausoleum outside the city, but public transportation is convenient in the city Qingcheng-Longdong Ancient Stone Carving Art Museum: Method 1: Take the bus from Qingcheng South Bus Station to Heshui for 8 yuan and 50 minutes. Method 2: Heshui Customized Travel XCX, 15 yuan for work pick-up Longdong Ancient Stone Carving Art Museum-Xi'an, first take Heshui Customized Travel XCX 20 yuan to Ningxian Railway Station, then take the train to Xi'an Features: For specific attractions, please see the collection below the article for a special introduction 【Kaiyuan Temple Pagoda】Free. The tower is 47.84 meters high, with an octagonal, seven-story brick-wood mixed structure. You can go up to the high steps at the back to overlook Binzhou City. [Binzhou Big Buddha Temple] 35 yuan, 20 yuan in off-season, highly recommended, especially the Thousand Buddha Caves, bring a flashlight [Zhaoren Temple in Changwu] Free, highly recommended, Yu Shinan's regular script, Bagua ceiling with stacked beams [Southern Grotto Temple] 20 yuan, one year later than the Northern Grotto Temple, but the Buddha statues are much better in terms of technique and proportion than the Northern Grotto Temple 【Longqi Valley】Experience ice caves, cave dwellings, and pure Longdong folk customs [North Grottoes Temple] 30 yuan, only three caves are open, the steel frame outside will not be removed for the time being, it is better to bring a flashlight to see [Zhou Zuling] 30 yuan, a small scenic spot, you can climb the mountain if you have time to experience the Taoist style 【Longdong Middle School】The middle school on the map is a school. If you want to see the four big characters written by the teacher, you can find it next to Zhou Jiubang. [Qingcheng Museum] Free, highly recommended, at least 1 hour to experience the Tang Dynasty figurines [Longdong Ancient Stone Carving Art Museum] Free, highly recommended, the Buddha statues on the right hand side of the entrance are exquisite, and the Taerwan Statue Tower on the left hand side is worth a visit

It is a two-hour drive from Xi'an. I previously thought it was just a grotto on a cliff. But when I actually entered from Mingjingtai and saw the Giant Buddha Cave, I was deeply impressed by the ancient carving craftsmanship. Only by being there can you feel its shock. Bin County is the first stop on the northern route of the ancient Silk Road east of Chang'an. There are more than 100 existing caves in the Dafo Temple Grottoes and many cliff carvings. It is the largest grotto group in Shaanxi Province. It was listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 2014. The Big Buddha Cave is the largest cave, housing the largest Buddha statue in Shaanxi Province, which is 20 meters high. The Thousand Buddha Cave is a large central pillar cave with a nearly square plan. The niches inside the cave are arranged in a disorderly manner, and most of the statues are works from the reign of Wu Zetian. The Arhat Cave is slightly smaller in scale and has a special shape. It is an unfinished central pillar cave, and the statue style is similar to that of the Thousand Buddha Cave.

Binzhou Giant Buddha, also known as Binxian Giant Buddha, is located in the Great Buddha Temple Grottoes on the south bank of the Jinghe River, 10 km west of Binzhou City (formerly Bin County), Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province. The Giant Buddha is an Amitabha Buddha statue, 20 meters high, with a head height of 5.2 meters, a hand height of 4.5 meters, a finger height of 2 meters, and a fingernail thickness of 0.5 meters. The Giant Buddha sits on a lotus platform, and its grandeur and exquisite carving are breathtaking. The Binzhou Great Buddha Temple Grottoes were built in the early Tang Dynasty during the reign of Li Shimin, more than 1,300 years ago, and are a national key cultural relic protection unit. The entire temple has 130 caves, scattered over a 400-meter-long three-dimensional rock face. The most famous of these is the Giant Buddha in the Great Buddha Cave, which is not only the largest Buddha in Shaanxi but also one of the largest Buddha statues on the Silk Road. There is a theory that the Giant Buddha was built according to the true appearance of Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, but this theory is more based on folklore and historical speculation, and there is no conclusive evidence to support it. However, regardless of the truth, the Binzhou Giant Buddha attracts countless visitors with its unique artistic charm and profound cultural heritage. In addition to the Giant Buddha itself, the Great Buddha Temple Grottoes also include the Thousand Buddha Cave, the Arhat Cave, and other parts, which together form a large and exquisite group of Buddhist statues. These grottoes not only showcase the charm of Buddhist art but also witness the cultural exchange and integration on the ancient Silk Road. In recent years, the Binzhou Great Buddha Temple Grottoes have been successfully included in the World Heritage List as one of the sites of the "Silk Road: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Network" jointly declared by China, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan, further enhancing its international reputation and influence.

Ten kilometers west of Binzhou City, Xianyang The ochre-red rocks stand abruptly beside the road Several caves can be seen faintly in the mountains and forests. This is the Binzhou Dafo Temple Grottoes This group of caves carries thousands of years of history and culture. It is an outstanding representative of ancient Chinese Buddhist art. Known as "the first wonder of Guanzhong" The grottoes were first built in the second year of the Zhenguan period of the Tang Dynasty. More than a thousand years ago It was built by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, to commemorate Battle of Binzhou Qianshuiyuan and Wulongban Built for the fallen Originally named Ofukuji Temple In the Northern Song Dynasty, it was renamed Qingshou Temple It was called Dafo Temple in the Ming Dynasty. Carving images in caves on the mountain Distribution of large and small caves on the three-dimensional cliff face The Buddhist niches and statues are large and magnificent The center of the Dafo Cave is also the largest cave in the temple. A 20-meter-high Buddha statue is located in the center of the cave. With a sapphire-blue bun on his head, he sat on a lotus platform. Two statues of Bodhisattvas stand on both sides Wearing a crown and gorgeous necklaces, she looks solemn Binzhou Dafo Temple Grottoes An outstanding representative of ancient Chinese Buddhist art An important witness to cultural exchanges along the Silk Road

I've long heard of the famous Binxian Dafo Temple, and today I finally got to see it in person. It truly deserves its reputation as the "No. 1 Wonder of Guanzhong." This magnificent temple, first built in the Northern Wei and flourishing in the Tang Dynasty, is truly breathtaking. The Dafo Temple consists of the Dafo Cave, the Thousand Buddha Cave, the Arhat Cave, and more, and is home to many exquisite stone carvings. The statue of Amitabha in the Dafo Cave is especially grand and majestic, embodying the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty.

Formerly known as Yingfu Temple, it was renamed Qingshou Temple by Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty (reigned 1022-1063) in celebration of the birthday of his adoptive mother, Empress Dowager Liu. The grottoes were carved into the mountain and the stones were carved into images. There are more than 130 grottoes in total, which are scattered in an orderly manner on the three-dimensional cliff face about 400 meters long. There are 446 Buddhist niches with more than 1,980 statues, which are divided into five parts: the Big Buddha Cave, the Thousand Buddha Caves, the Arhat Caves (Buddha Caves), the Zhangba Buddha Caves, and the Monk Caves. There are 361 existing caves and niches, including 19 caves with statues, and 1,498 statues preserved. The Dafo Temple Grottoes were first carved in the Northern Dynasties (439-581), flourished in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and were remodeled and redecorated in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), Jin Dynasty (1115-1234), and Yuan Dynasty (1206-1368). It is more than 1,500 years old This cave is named after a 24-meter-tall seated statue of Amitabha Buddha carved in the cave. It is the largest and best-preserved cave in the early days of the temple. It is also the largest and most exquisite cave in China from the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang. (Inside the Guan Gong statue, there is free chanting to pray for peace, recommended) During the visit, the Zhangba Buddha Cave was under renovation and could not be viewed. It was all blocked by scaffolding. It was a pity. The door downstairs of the cave was locked and it was impossible to look up from the bottom. It was a small pity. It was less than 2 hours' drive from Xi'an, and it was still very valuable. 🕘【Opening hours】： 08:00-18:00 💴【Ticket price】: 35 in off-season, 20 in peak season ⛺【Amusement projects】: Big Buddha Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, Zhangba Buddha Cave 🚌【Transportation Guide】: Charter a car and experience the northern Shaanxi style on the road 👉【Itinerary】: It is not recommended to stay in the local area. You can visit Qianling Mausoleum, Zhaoling Mausoleum, Maolin Hanyang Mausoleum and other scenic spots along the way 🧡【Pre-trip preparation】: You can enter after purchasing in advance, or you can buy on site The Dafo Temple Grottoes still have stone carvings of "The Sutra of Bathing Monks in the Greenhouse" and "The Heart Sutra of Prajnaparamita", 8 steles, and 178 inscriptions from the Tang Dynasty onwards. Shaanxi is a province with many grottoes, and its number of grottoes ranks second in the country, second only to Gansu. According to data from the second national cultural relics survey, grottoes, temples and steles in Shaanxi Province account for as much as 11.9% of all cultural relics sites in the province. The excavation of grottoes in Shaanxi began in the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, and reached peak development in the Sui, Tang, Song and Ming Dynasties. They are mainly distributed in the northern Shaanxi Plateau. As of 2021, there are 1,012 grotto temples in Shaanxi Province.

In the long river of time, the Binzhou Giant Buddha Temple Grottoes are like a bright pearl, quietly shining with the light of history and art. Stepping into this sacred place is like traveling through a thousand years. The grottoes are carved into the mountain, majestic and magnificent, witnessing the vicissitudes and glory of time. The vivid Buddha statues, with their kind faces and different postures, and the exquisite carving techniques, make people marvel at the wisdom and craftsmanship of the ancients. Here, every mark tells an ancient story, and every line flows with the power of faith. The sunlight shines through the gaps in the caves, casting a sacred glow on the Buddha statues, creating a peaceful and solemn atmosphere. The Binzhou Giant Buddha Temple Grottoes are not only a treasure of art but also a resting place for the soul. It carries the memory of history, leading us to feel the charm of ancient civilization and to pursue the long-lost peace and tranquility.

Binzhou Great Buddha Temple Grottoes The Great Buddha Temple was originally named Yingfu Temple. The Great Buddha Temple Grottoes were carved into the mountain, with over 100 grottoes scattered across the cliff face. The grottoes include the Great Buddha Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, and more. The Great Buddha Temple Grottoes are listed as a World Heritage Site. The Great Buddha Cave was carved from a natural stone cave and was built by Emperor Taizong of Tang to commemorate the soldiers who died in the Battle of Qianshuiyuan in Binzhou. The cave is named after the 24-meter-tall Amitabha Buddha statue carved inside. It is the largest and best-preserved cave in the temple and the largest and most exquisite cave from the reign of Emperor Taizong of Tang in China. Time needed: About 1 hour Tickets: Seniors aged 60–64 need to buy tickets. Most attractions in Shaanxi only offer free admission to seniors aged 65 and over. How to buy tickets: Tickets can be purchased on-site. Unfortunately, apart from the Great Buddha Cave, most of the statues in the other caves have been damaged.

❤Recommendation reason: Binzhou proverb [○] "Three-faced Buddha, facing each other layer by layer." The Dafo Temple Grottoes were carved into the mountain and the stone images are formed. As you climb the steps, you will find that each of the three floors has its own unique views. The grottoes were first carved in the Northern Dynasties, flourished in the Tang Dynasty, and were remodeled and redecorated in the Song, Jin and Yuan Dynasties. It is now a national key cultural relic protection unit and a national 4A-level tourist attraction. 🗓Itinerary: Self-driving from Xi'an to Binzhou Big Buddha Temple in Xianyang in August: passing through Yulin ~ Ordos ~ Bayannur ~ Alxa Left Banner ~ Wuzhong ~ Binzhou Big Buddha Temple. ⛰【Attractions Guide】Binzhou City Dafo Temple Grottoes, a total of more than 130 grottoes, scattered in an orderly manner on a three-dimensional cliff face about 400 meters long. There are 446 Buddhist niches and more than 1,980 statues, which are divided into five parts: the Big Buddha Cave, the Thousand Buddha Cave, the Arhat Cave, the Zhangba Buddha Cave, and the Monk Cave. 📍Detailed address: Located in the Dafo Temple in Dafo Temple Village, Chengguan Town, Binzhou City, Xianyang City. The Dafo Temple was originally named Yingfu Temple. It was renamed Qingshou Temple when Emperor Renzong of the Northern Song Dynasty celebrated the birthday of his adoptive mother, Empress Dowager Liu. 🚗Traffic guide: You can drive to the parking lot at the door. 🕙Opening hours: 08:00-18:00. 💰Ticket price: Peak season: 35 yuan/person, off-season: 20 yuan/person. 🌟Highlights: [One] On June 22, 2014, at the 38th World Heritage Committee meeting of UNESCO held in Doha, Qatar, the Dafo Temple Grottoes were successfully included in the World Heritage List as a site of the "Silk Road: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" jointly applied for by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan. [Two] The grottoes are under renovation. Although we cannot appreciate the magnificence of the Buddha up close, we can still feel the profound history and exquisite art when facing the Buddha on the second floor. [Three] Binzhou pears are very famous. There are pear wood chopping boards for sale at the entrance of the scenic area. You can take one home [Tiptop][Tiptop]. 🍽Dining recommendations: [One] Breakfast: Wuzhong Duyou Su Lamb Offal (Huanghe Road Store). [Two] Lunch: Sunji Farmhouse Rice (Binzhou Branch). 🏨Hotel recommendation: Wuzhong Jiayue Wanda Jin Hotel. 📝Note tips: There are many trucks transporting coal on the road, please pay attention to driving safety.

The Dafo Temple Grottoes began to be carved in the Northern Dynasty, and were extensively excavated in the early Tang Dynasty. They were basically completed in the second year of Zhenguan (628). They were built by Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, to commemorate the soldiers who died in the battles of Qianshuiyuan and Wulongban in Binzhou. The temple was named Yingfu Temple. It was renamed Qingshou Temple in the Northern Song Dynasty. Since the Ming Dynasty, it has been commonly known as Dafo Temple, named after the tall and exquisite statue of Amitabha. The Dafo Temple is built on a mountain with carved stone statues. There are more than 130 grottoes, which are distributed in a three-dimensional cliff face about 400 meters long. There are 446 Buddha niches and more than 1980 statues, divided into four parts: Dafo Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, Arhat Cave, and Zhaba Buddha Cave. It was once praised by the Qing Dynasty scholar Bi Yuan as the "first wonder of Guanzhong". "Dafo Cave" is the center of the temple and the largest cave of the temple. The cave is semi-circular in plan, with a diameter of about 34 meters and a height of 31 meters. Inside the cave, there are three statues of one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas made of stone and clay. Amitabha (commonly known as Dafo) leans against the cliff in the middle, 20 meters high, 13 meters wide at the shoulders, 4.5 meters high at the hands, and 2 meters long at the fingers. He has a gemstone blue bun on his head, beautiful eyebrows and kind eyes, and sits on a lotus platform. Behind the head of the Buddha, there are two round carved lace and seven relief sitting Buddhas, with 19 flying apsaras scattered nearby, forming a rich and auspicious backlight. The Avalokitesvara and Mahasthamaprapta standing on both sides are both 15.6 meters tall, wearing crowns and gorgeous tassels, and their expressions are calm. In addition, there are more than 400 small statues of different shapes in the Buddha niches in the cave. The cave is large in scale, with majestic statues and exquisite carvings. It is a treasure trove of ancient modeling. "Dafo Cave" preserves the magnificent backlight carving of the Buddha of that year. There are seven Buddhas sitting in a circle on it, and twenty-two exquisite flying apsaras are guarding the Maitreya Buddha's pagoda, presenting a joyful scene of the Western Paradise. It is known as the largest Buddha in Shaanxi and the Silk Road. The Thousand Buddha Cave is located on the east side of the Dafo Cave. It is a central pillar room structure, composed of three adjacent small caves, with the two sides deeper and the middle slightly smaller. There are more than 300 statues in the cave, most of which are reliefs, except for a few that are three-dimensional. In each niche on the four walls, there are mostly one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas or one Buddha, two disciples and two Bodhisattva statues, with the main statue being Maitreya Buddha. The Bodhisattva statues in each niche present a beautiful large "S" shape, with various postures, most of them bare-chested and bare-bellied, elegant and dynamic, like singing and dancing, reflecting the free and open social fashion of the Tang Dynasty. The Arhat Cave is located on the west side of the Dafo Cave. It is composed of four small stone caves in a row, with more than 100 statues of different sizes and heights. The main statue in the cave is Sakyamuni Buddha, and the rest are his disciples, Bodhisattvas, strong men, vajras, etc. One of the attendants of Sakyamuni Buddha is Manjusri Bodhisattva. He sits steadily in the middle of the double round lotus petals on the back of a lion, with a very powerful momentum. The lion's shape is extremely charming, with a bell around its neck and its tail swinging, giving a sense of galloping. The Zhaba Buddha Cave, also known as "Yingfu Temple", is located 200 meters west of the Dafo Cave. Nine small stone caves excavated along the mountain are scattered on the cliff face. The main statue is the Zhaba Buddha, which is 7.5 meters high. The two emperors standing Bodhisattvas are both 5.8 meters high. There are 108 statues of various kinds, with a simple and solemn style, most of which are severely damaged. In front of the Dafo Cave, there is a five-story protective building with a brick and wood structure. The original building was built in the Tang Dynasty. The existing building was rebuilt during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty and was built during the Qing Dynasty. The building is 32 meters high. The first and second floors are paved with strip bricks "one smooth and one ding". The base is square, and the top is a hexagonal spire. The word "Juelu" is carved on the lintel of the first floor. The second floor is piled up with three arch-shaped door holes. The word "Mingjing Tai" is carved on the middle door hole. The three door holes are connected to the Dafo Cave. The light in the Dafo Cave is bright, which is convenient for the worshippers to look at all the statues, so that all the statues in the Dafo Cave are presented to the worshippers in the best light and the best angle. From the third floor up, all are wooden buildings. The width and height of each floor gradually decrease from bottom to top, and the overall outline is square tower-shaped. Each floor has doors and windows, railings are made, and you can climb up to look far away. It is a national key cultural relics protection unit.