Dafo Temple

Dafo Temple is a Buddhist complex in Xinchang County organized across five levels, featuring the Heavenly King Hall and the Big Buddha Hall built in traditional Chinese style. The site centers on a massive Buddha statue housed in a grotto area that also contains other religious sculptures.

The temple was founded between 345 and 356 AD during the Eastern Jin Dynasty, a time when Buddhism was spreading from India across China. Its creation marks part of a larger movement that transformed religious and cultural life in the region.

The site holds deep meaning for local devotees who regularly visit to make offerings and participate in Buddhist practices. The massive statues and halls shape how people in the area connect their daily lives to spiritual traditions.

The temple sits in an area with natural features including a waterfall and petrified forest that enhance the visit. Good walking shoes are recommended since the grounds are uneven and exploring the multi-level complex requires climbing stairs.

During the Cultural Revolution, local people protected the massive Buddha statues from destruction by covering them with images of Mao Zedong. This unusual strategy allowed the valuable sculptures to survive a tumultuous period in Chinese history.