#Mengshan Giant Buddha Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in May)
Historical Sites
Statues/Sculptures
Address:
Luocheng Temple Village, Jinyuan District, Taiyuan City
Opening times:
Business hours TBAClosed
Recommended sightseeing time:
2-4 hours
Phone:
0351-6159898,0351-6856911,0351-6862502
Meng Mountain
I had some extra time after returning to Taiyuan, so I visited Meng Mountain. There weren't many people, most likely locals from Taiyuan out for a suburban trip. Inside, there were many amusement facilities targeted at children. Climbing the big Buddha wasn't too difficult; it's older than the one in Leshan, but it must have been renovated in recent times as it doesn't show signs of aging. The main iron Buddha is covered in rust, but a row of smaller Buddha statues is quite interesting, as if they are playfully amusing visitors. The Song dynasty's Lianli Pagoda, I wonder if it got its clever name because it appears in pairs.
ExcursionEnthusiast
Giant Buddha in Taiyuan
When: April 2024
Where: Taiyuan, Shanxi, China 蒙山大佛景区
Entrance: 34 yuan
It’s a short hiking place in Taiyuan. There is a lake in the scenic area at the end of the trail is the giant Buddha statue. Seems part of it it’s curved from the large rock. The huge staircase seen in the first photo was closed, but there is another staircase from the left hand side leading to the statue.
Moonlover
Weekend Travel Guide
Weekend Travel Guide🍂 Head to Taiyuan, Shanxi to enjoy the autumn scenery🍁|||✈️ Guangzhou workers rush to the airport right after work on Friday! Arriving in Taiyuan late at night~ Breathing the super cool cold air haha, who knows how refreshing it is to drop from the sultry heat in Guangzhou to a chilly nine degrees🤣
🏠Accommodation: It is recommended to stay near Wuyi Square, which is a central area and more convenient.
🗺️Itinerary: (The route map is on the last two pages)
1️⃣DAY1: 📍Mengshan Giant Buddha➡️Jinci Museum➡️Bell Tower Street➡️Drum Tower Street➡️Liu Alley
The first day's destinations are all major scenic spots. In the morning, head to 📍Mengshan Giant Buddha first, where there are so few people in the morning! Enter the scenic area, buy a sightseeing car ticket to go up the mountain, and then walk 30min to the top of the mountain to see the giant Buddha statue. The path is easy and not tiring at all~
🏃🏻♀️After seeing the giant Buddha, head to Jinci, which is very large! 📍Jinci Museum is a section within Jinci Park that requires an entrance ticket of 80💰. The outer ring area that doesn't require a ticket is also very large and just as beautiful~ But you must visit the museum, it's well worth seeing! There's no need for a guide, you can watch 'A Thousand Years One Garden Jinci' before going.
🏃🏻♀️In the evening, stroll around Bell Tower Street & Drum Tower Street & Liu Alley, which are all close to each other, and it's very lively at night. I also had dinner at 'Old Taiyuan Restaurant' on Bell Tower Street, which was quite delicious~
2️⃣DAY2:
📍Shanxi Museum➡️Jin Merchant Museum➡️Chongshen Temple➡️Di Lianggong Street➡️Confucian Temple➡️Wuyi Square➡️Chunyang Palace➡️Wenyin Park➡️Ancient Mosque➡️Return to the hotel to pick up luggage and head to the airport
The second day is mainly about citywalk, wandering through the old Taiyuan city area, experiencing the culture and the lively atmosphere.
🌟In the morning, visit Shanxi Museum, which is free but requires advance reservation, and is absolutely fascinating! The 'River of Gold' special exhibition on the first floor, 'The Hegemony of Jin State' and 'Traces of Xia and Shang Dynasties' on the second floor, 'Melting Pot of Ethnicities' and 'Buddhist Charm' on the third floor, and 'Porcelain Garden' on the fourth floor are all my favorites!
🌟After that, head to Jin Merchant Museum, which is also free with reservation, and is a combination of indoor and outdoor spaces. The architecture and courtyard are very beautiful~ After visiting, I had lunch at 'Apricot Flower Hall' nearby, which also had very exquisite dishes, delicious😋
🌟In the afternoon, start walking vigorously🚶🏻! Chongshen Temple is being renovated, but the outer wall is very beautiful and I took some photos. Walking to Di Lianggong Street, the red walls and tree shadows are really beautiful, and then I arrived at the Confucian Temple. There is also a Shanxi Archaeological Museum here, which costs 30 for a ticket😂. It's also nice to look at from the outside. Chunyang Palace is also under renovation, just took a casual look while passing by. Wenyin Park is said to be the childhood park of old Taiyuan people, with a long history...
🧳After the tour, return to the hotel to pick up luggage and head straight to the airport~ The weekend trip of a worker is always in a hurry, but I have a very good impression of Taiyuan. The autumn streets are golden and beautiful🥰
BRIELLE PEARSON
Around China Series 172 Taiyuan, Mengshan Giant Buddha
🌈Historical Background:
The construction began during the Tianbao era of the Northern Qi dynasty, dating back about 1500 years, making it the largest cliff-carved Buddha of the Northern Dynasties period in China. Historical figures such as Li Yuan, Wu Zetian, Li Keyong, and Liu Zhiyuan have all visited to pay homage to the Buddha. At the end of the Yuan dynasty, the Mengshan Giant Buddha was destroyed. It was rediscovered in 1980.
🚗Highlights:
A 4A-level tourist attraction, the Mengshan Giant Buddha stands 63 meters tall, presumed to be a seated statue of Sakyamuni. It is as famous as the Leshan Giant Buddha and the Bamiyan Buddhas, and is one of the three largest stone Buddhas in the world.
🎫Ticket Information:
Tickets are 35 yuan.
✨Travel Tips:
After entering the scenic area, you can take a scenic shuttle bus or walk along the plank road, which takes about 30 minutes on foot, all on flat and gentle slopes. The route passes by the Earth God Temple and the Guanyin Hall up to the mid-mountain. Then, ascend from the Kaifu Temple side, which involves climbing a short stretch of mountain road. First, visit the Iron Buddha Temple, the Lianli Pagoda (a rare flower pagoda), and the Kaifu Temple. Afterwards, continue forward past the pagoda forest, and after climbing for about 15 minutes, you will reach the Mengshan Giant Buddha platform. The entire scenic area can be toured in about 2 hours.
FootstepsOfWanderers
The mountain is a Buddha, the Buddha is a mountain
Mengshan Buddha, also known as Xishan Buddha, is located in Mengshan, about 20 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan City, Shanxi Province. The Mengshan Buddha was carved during the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty. It was originally a cliff Buddha statue behind the Kaihua Temple of Mengshan. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty, the Mengshan Buddha was destroyed. The Buddha was rediscovered in 1980, but the Buddha's head was missing. The current head of the Buddha is newly carved by later generations.
In history, the Mengshan Buddha has been damaged many times. In 620 AD, Emperor Gaozu of Tang, Li Yuan, held a ceremony here and changed the name of the temple back to Kaihua Temple. However, in 657 AD, when Emperor Gaozong of the Tang Dynasty toured here, the Mengshan Buddha was covered by a huge kasaya caused by Wu Zetian. In 845 AD, Emperor Wuzong of Tang destroyed Buddhism, and the Buddhist temple of Kaihua Temple was destroyed. The Mengshan Buddha has since been exposed to the wilderness.
Later, Li Ke rebuilt the Buddhist temple of Kaihua Temple after worshiping the Mengshan Buddha. However, at the end of the Yuan Dynasty, with the change of the dynasty, the Buddha Kaihua Temple was once again destroyed by war and eroded by nature. Only the shed was still there. The Mengshan Buddha was also destroyed. The Buddha's head collapsed and was buried between the stones in the ground and the abdomen. This 800-year-old Buddha statue has faded. Until 1983, a Taiyuan man named Wang Jianpei was investigating local names and found a place name called Daduyan. After investigation, he found that Daduyan was actually the chest of Mengshan Buddha. Although the Buddha's head was lost, the exposed upper part was 16.75 meters high.
Mengshan Buddha
NomadicAdventures
The mountain is a Buddha, the Buddha is a mountain
The mountain is a Buddha, the Buddha is a mountain.
A perfect summer retreat, personally, I think it's more fun than Mount Tai, suitable for people of all ages. Navigate to the scenic area parking lot, then take a six yuan scenic area car to the foot of the mountain. Along the way, there are not many stairs, trees are shaded, streams are gurgling, and there is a breeze from time to time, making the journey relaxed and comfortable. Following the signs to the foot of the Buddha, this Buddha is about eight meters lower than the Leshan Giant Buddha, but it was built more than a hundred years earlier than the Leshan Giant Buddha. Emperor Li Zhi and Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty have been here. Looking at the Buddha from different angles, you can observe different expressions. The Buddha is majestic and awe-inspiring, making people kneel down and worship, wishing nothing more than the safety and health of their family.
After worshipping the Buddha, turn right and go down the mountain. On the way, there is a small shop selling various snacks and drinks, which are slightly expensive. Outside the shop, tourists are enjoying the shade under the trees, and young friends are playing with water guns by the stream, creating a peaceful scene. My mother and I sat on the rocking chair, looking up at the boundless blue sky, listening to the sound of the water, people ultimately belong to nature, nature gives us inner peace.
BLAKELY NEWMAN
Taiyuan Travel Must-Play Guide
Taiyuan Travel. Must-visit attractions recommendation + Taiyuan luggage storage service🛅
✈️ 'Dongyuan Diping, big and high Ping, called Taiyuan.
Compared with any ancient capital, Taiyuan is not inferior in history, the so-called 'Heavenly King Three Capitals, North Capital One'. Taiyuan has a history of more than 2,500 years, where natural landscapes and historical relics are gathered, it is an important political, military, economic, and cultural center in ancient northern China. It has always been a very important transportation hub between Yanjing and Xi'an.
📖Language: Taiyuan dialect
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1⃣Taiyuan Fantawild Oriental Heritage: Unfolding a brilliant scroll of the essence of Chinese civilization over 5,000 years📌Figure②
💰Ticket: 260 yuan
👩🎓Student ID: Discount
🕐Time: 09:30-17:30
🛅Luggage storage: Provided by Huicun
🛠Facilities: Wheelchair, disabled access, mobile phone charging
🅿️Parking lot:
❤Tips: Most projects and performances do not require separate charges (except for special performances and projects during special periods).
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2⃣Mount Tai: The scenery is extraordinary, especially known for its red leaves in deep autumn📌Figure③
💰Ticket: 45 yuan
👩🎓Student ID: Half price
🕐Time: 08:00-18:30
🛅Luggage storage: Provided by Huicun
🛠Facilities:
🅿️Parking lot:
❤Tips: The only downside is that there is only one shuttle bus back and forth.
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3⃣Mengshan Giant Buddha: Carved in the Tianbao period of the Northern Qi Dynasty, it was originally a cliff Buddha statue behind the Kaifu Temple in Mengshan📌Figure④
💰Ticket: 33 yuan
👩🎓Student ID: Half price
🕐Time: 08:00-18:30
🛅Luggage storage: Provided by Huicun
🛠Facilities: Tourist car
🅿️Parking lot:
❤Tips: The Giant Buddha was rediscovered in 1980, but the Buddha's head is missing, and the current Buddha's head is newly carved by later generations.
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4⃣Qinglong Ancient Town: The Wang clan in the village donated a million taels of silver to the Qing Dynasty, and the royal family rewarded a big flag embroidered with the 'Qinglong' pattern, implying that the Manchus and Han are one family, and since then Jinghaozui has been renamed Qinglong Ancient Town📌Figure⑤
💰Ticket: Free
👩🎓Student ID:
🕐Time: 09:00-17:30
🛅Luggage storage: Provided by Huicun
🛠Facilities:
🅿️Parking lot: Charge
❤Tips: Tickets for internal attractions need to be purchased separately, package tickets are 27 yuan each.
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5️⃣China Coal Museum: The national collection center for historical relics, specimens, documents, and materials of the coal industry📌⑥
💰Ticket: 60 yuan
👩🎓Student ID: Half price
🕐Time: 09:00-18:00
🛅Luggage storage: Provided by Huicun
🛠Facilities: Explanation, baby carriage
🅿️Parking lot: 10 yuan/hour
❤Tips: Due to the special nature of the display, visitors cannot visit on their own. In order to ensure the quality and safety of each visitor, the China Coal Museum provides safety guidance and explanation services to the audience and charges a corresponding fee.