Hexi Corridor

Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple Travel Guide

Western Xia Reclining Buddha · Wooden Main Hall · Earth Pagoda

The Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple houses the largest indoor wooden clay reclining Buddha in Asia, over thirty meters long, with the Buddha's body carved from a single piece of wood and lying in the main hall left from the Western Xia period. The width of the hall and the length of the statue require one to tilt their head back to see it all upon entering.

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Destination Details

Key facts

Best seasonMay–Oct

Suggested stay1–1.5 hours

Key highlightsReclining Buddha Hall · Earthen Pagoda · Western Xia Murals · Sutra Library

TrafficZhangye city center can be reached on foot or by taxi.

RemindThe lighting in the hall is dim, flash photography is prohibited

Zhangye Giant Buddha Temple is located in the southwest corner of the city. It was originally built in the first year of Yong'an during the Western Xia Dynasty and is one of the most well-preserved ancient temples in the Hexi Corridor. The name is straightforward—because the reclining Buddha inside the hall is truly enormous: made of a wooden frame and clay, it is over 34 meters long, more than 7 meters wide at the shoulders, and several people can stand on its feet.

Main Highlights

Reclining Buddha Hall

The main hall is a single-story wooden structure, nine bays wide, and stepping inside immediately impresses with its scale. The reclining Buddha lies on the central altar, its face gilded, with the clothing folds outlined with powdered gold. Behind the Buddha stand statues of the ten principal disciples and the eighteen Arhats. The interior lighting is very dim; after a while, your eyes adjust, allowing you to see the remnants of Western Xia and Yuan dynasty murals on the side walls.

Earth Tower and Scriptures

Behind the temple stands an earthen Amitabha Thousand Buddha Tower, yellow in color, contrasting with the blue bricks of the main hall. Historically, the temple was famous for its scripture collection. The Ming Dynasty text "Northern Canon of the Sacred Teachings of the Three Treasures of the Great Ming" was at one time kept here. Today, there is a dedicated exhibition explaining the versions and how they were dispersed.

Suggested Routes

30-minute version: Reclining Buddha Hall → Earth Tower, suitable as a stop for Silk Road tour groups.
1-hour version: Add the mural exhibition room and scripture display, allowing for a slower pace.

Practical Information

Zhangye city center is small, and the Giant Buddha Temple, Wooden Pagoda Temple, and Zhenyuan Pavilion can be linked into a half-day walking route. Summer has strong sunlight, so it is recommended to visit the temple in the morning or evening; winter brings strong winds to the Hexi Corridor, so dress warmly. Flash photography and tripods are prohibited inside the hall.