The Nashan Temple is a symbol of the Chinese devotion to Buddhism. Famously associated to the enormous 354 feet statue of the South China Sea Kwan-yin Bodhisattva, this is certainly a monument that must not be missed in Sanya. Its popularity has made the entire location a place dedicated to the tourist.
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The Nashan Temple in itself is located some 40km from the city centre of Sanya. The temple situated at the foothills of the South Mountain, Nanshan is widely known in the country as the largest Buddhist preaching site. 40,000 square meters is the total space that the temple occupies and within this space there are replicas of the unique Tang Dynasty architecture and several remarkable Buddha statues.
The temple was created in an auspicious year for Buddhists. 1998 marked 2,000 years since Buddhism made its way to China and the Nashan Temple was the Chinese way of commemorating this occasion. The Main Hall of the site is where the Maitreya Buddha stands and on each of its sides 2 Bodhisattvas are found. Surrounding the 3 statues are the 4 Heavenly Kings who are known to be the guardians and protectors of the Buddhists and their affairs.
Through the Porch of the Temple one can access the Hall of Ceremony where 3 important Buddha images are found. Since Nashan Temple is situated in the heart of a tourism hotspot there are a few other highlights in the area that just cannot be missed. The Buer Famen Gate is one attraction that towers 3.8 metres in height and is completely made of 221 pounds of pure gold and silver and further embedded with an array of precious diamonds and jewels. It is the location of a sacred Buddhist Relic.
Savour all these images in a glance by spending a few hours in the Sea Watch Terrace. Here there are gardens fully adorned with flowers and fountains and the view of the South China Sea from this angle is truly immaculate.
Uditha Dharmawardhane is a travel writer who writes under the pen name Roland Lefevre. He specializes in creating features on leisure as well as business travel destinations across the globe.
