Dafo Temple, Buddhist temple in Zhangye, China
Dafo Temple is a Buddhist temple complex in Zhangye, in China's Gansu Province, built around a large hall that houses a reclining Buddha statue lying flat on its side. The complex also includes several other prayer halls, courtyards, and wooden structures decorated with traditional carvings.
The temple was founded during the Northern Zhou Dynasty, between 557 and 581, making it one of the oldest Buddhist sites in the region. It was restored and expanded over the following centuries before receiving national protection status in recognition of its place in Chinese Buddhist history.
The temple is still in active use, with monks following daily routines that visitors can quietly observe. The name Dafo means 'Great Buddha' in Chinese, which reflects the central place the reclining figure has held in local devotion for centuries.
Shoes should be removed before entering the prayer halls, and visitors are expected to keep their voices low throughout the site. Going early in the day gives a calmer experience and a better chance to see the halls without large groups.
The reclining Buddha inside the temple is one of the largest figures of its kind housed indoors anywhere in China. The hall built around it was designed specifically to shield the statue from moisture and direct light, which has helped it survive in good condition for so long.
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