The Grand Buddha is located in the tourist resort town of Wuxi, China. The statue is recorded as one of the world’s tallest and biggest Buddha statues and weighs up to about 700 tons. There a number of poses for the Buddha statues and this statue represents Gautama Buddha in the standing position. The Grand Buddha was erected in a large area that covers 74 acres of land. It is a national park that features several other attractions such as Five Mudra Mandala, Brahma Palace, Xiangfu Temple, Nine Dragons bathing Sakyamuni and other sites. If you want to explore all of the sites then you should first start with the Grand Screen wall, then move on to Buddha’s footprints, the nine dragons bathing Sakyamuni, the Buddha’s hand square, the Xiangfu temple, ancient Gingko square and then the Grand Buddha statue. Once you finish climbing the steps up to see the statue and taking pictures you can head over to Brahma Palace.
To arrive at this marvellous creation you must climb 216 steps which represent 108 troubles & 108 wishes. It is called ‘ascending cloud avenue’ which is found on seven levels of 7 storied stupas. On your way up to the Grand Buddha statue you will see an ancient well that is shaped like a hexagon. The well was once used to supply water for the resident monks of the Xiangfu temple. Once you reach the statue you will be amazed by the magnificent statue of the Buddha. The mountains are the background to the statue which is 289 feet tall. The Buddha statue is surrounded by mountains, on the right is White tiger mountain and on the left is Green dragon mountain. Once you reach up to the statue you would be amazed by the amount of effort that has been put to build the statue. The craftsmanship is impeccable, the lotus leaves that rests beneath the Buddha’s feet were created using 2000 layers of Bronze metal. Buddha’s right hand points towards heaven while the left is directed at the earth.
When you get to the Grand Buddha be sure to explore the museum which is within the pedestal of the statuette. You can learn a lot about the growth and development of Buddha’s philosophy and the core principles in his teachings at the museum. You can even take an elevator ride up to the lotus pedestal that the Buddha’s feet rest on. Visitors also get the opportunity to touch Buddha’s feet which signifies good luck and safety in Chinese Buddhist culture.
For a closer look at Lingshan and its many attractions arrange for accommodation at greater China hotels. There are many hotels in China for tourists to stay in so you can pick out one that best suits your budget. For luxurious rooms, great service and mouth-watering Chinese food check out Millennium & Copthorne Hotels China.
Angela Fernando is an impassioned travel writer who composes pieces under the pen name Sumaira Narayan. She loves writing about new and exciting places around the world and hopes to visit them all someday.
