Visiting Thousand Buddha Cliff and Qianfo Temple: The Ultimate Guide to this Ancient Cultural Site
Sichuan, a cradle of Chinese civilization, boasts a profound Buddhist cultural heritage. Among its countless relics, Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff Grottoes (a national key cultural relic protection unit) and Yibin Qianfo Temple (a renowned ancient temple with a history of over a thousand years) stand as two pearls, each shining with unique historical and artistic brilliance. One is a masterpiece of cliff-carving art, and the other is a witness to the spread of Buddhism in southern Sichuan.
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Overview
Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff, a 4A-level scenic spot and core heritage of the Jianmen Shu Road, boasts over 7,000 cliff carvings spanning Northern Wei to Song dynasties—among them the grand Great Buddha Grotto and densely packed Thousand Buddha Corridor. Yibin Qianfo Temple, perched on Cuiping Mountain overlooking three rivers, features Ming-Qing architecture, thousand-year-old bronze Buddhas, and a serene atmosphere blending spiritual tradition with panoramic views.
Core Attractions
Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff
The Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff are centered on Dayun Cave (Great Cloud Cave) and divided into southern and northern sections. The niches and grottoes in the southern section include: Dafo Cave (Great Buddha Cave), Lianhua Cave (Lotus Cave), Muni Pavilion, Qianfo Cave (Thousand Buddha Cave), Reclining Buddha Niche, Treasure Buddha Niche, Guide Buddha Niche, Donor Niche, Dragon Great Buddha, Wish-Fulfilling Wheel Guanyin, and Single Buddha Grotto, among others.
Those in the northern section include: Three-Life Buddha Niche, Ashoka Tree Niche, Maitreya Buddha Niche, Three-Body Buddha Niche, Virtuous Monk Niche, Bodhi Statue Grotto, Musical Deva Grotto, K?itigarbha Niche, Hercules Niche, Vairocana Buddha Niche, Eleven-Faced Guanyin Statue, Amitabha Buddha Niche, Apsara Grotto, and Qing Dynasty Tibetan Buddha Cave, etc.
1. Dayun Ancient Cave
Dayun Ancient Cave (Cave No. 512 of Qianfo Cliff) was chiseled by Wei Kang, who held the positions of Inspector of Jiannan Circuit, Silver Lighted Golden Purple Grand Master, and Acting Chief Administrator of Yizhou Military Governor’s Office during the Tang Dynasty. The construction began in the 3rd year of the Kaiyuan reign (715 CE) and was completed around the 10th year of the Kaiyuan reign (722 CE).
Located at the center of the cliff face of Qianfo Cliff, Dayun Ancient Cave is the largest cave in the entire cliff complex. It currently measures 3.8 meters in height, 5.6 meters in width, and 9.4 meters in depth. Above the cave entrance, there is a horizontal inscription of the four characters "Dayun Ancient Cave" dating back to the 19th year of the Daoguang reign of the Qing Dynasty (1839 CE), which is how the cave got its popular name. Dayun Ancient Cave features a rigorous layout, with innovative themes and statue arrangements.
2. Lianhua Cave (Lotus Cave)
Carved during the Wu Zhou period (circa 690–697 CE), Lianhua Cave (Cave No. 535) is situated on the lower layer of the middle section in the core cliff area of the Qianfo Cliff Stone Carving Art Museum. It derives its name from a lotus flower carved in relief on the cave ceiling.
Inside the cave, each of the three walls features a large arched niche, with one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas statues sculpted in each niche. These form the Three-Life Buddha ensemble, consisting of Amitabha Buddha (Buddha of the Past), Sakyamuni Buddha (Buddha of the Present), and Maitreya Buddha (Buddha of the Future).
In the first year of the Tianshou reign of the Wu Zhou period (690 CE), monks including Faming from Dongweiguo Temple compiled four volumes of the Great Cloud Scripture. The text claimed that Wu Zetian was the reincarnation of Maitreya Buddha and was destined to replace the Tang Dynasty as the ruler of Jambudvipa (the mortal world), and it was subsequently issued and promulgated across the empire. The central placement of Maitreya Buddha in Lianhua Cave was undoubtedly a product of the political climate of that era.
3. Sleeping Buddha Grotto
In the center of the Sleeping Buddha Grotto, a Buddha altar is chiseled, atop which stand top-reaching Sal trees, accompanied by thirteen images depicting the Buddha’s Nirvana. The Reclining Buddha on the altar lies on its right side, with disciples of varying postures behind it; its head rests on auspicious clouds, and Queen Maya is shown caressing the Buddha’s head with both hands, fully embodying the deep affection between mother and son.
The continuous carvings of the Nirvana scene recreate the moment of the Buddha’s passing into Nirvana in vivid detail:
· Six female disciples rush to spread the news that the Buddha has entered Nirvana;
· Ten disciples, either sitting or lying down, cremate the golden coffin containing the Buddha’s remains;
· Queen Maya sits opposite the Buddha with a serene demeanor;
· Nine disciples and Queen Maya gather around the golden coffin under the Sal trees;
· Fourteen disciples jointly carry the golden coffin.
4. Qianfo Cave (Thousand Buddha Cave)
Qianfo Cave (Thousand Buddha Cave) measures 2 meters in height, 3.9 meters in width, and 3 meters in depth, housing 926 statues in total—it is the cave with the largest number of carvings at Qianfo Cliff.
Several niches of openwork carvings, represented by the Muni Pavilion, are the essence of High Tang Dynasty art. The statues here feature well-developed muscles, proper proportions, smooth robe folds, and unique decorations. Beneath the lotus Buddha throne stand eight-headed and six-tusked white elephants; on either side, two dragons are carved spitting water. Behind the Buddha is an openwork-carved screen, while the left and right walls are adorned with ten arhat statues (carved in the form of Buddhas), each 1.2 meters tall and of varying postures.
The entire composition boasts a rigorous layout and strong three-dimensional sense. With ample light on the back wall, the cave has remained intact despite over a thousand years of erosion by wind, frost, rain, and snow, as well as the shaking of earthquakes.
Yibin Qianfo Temple
Qianfo Temple, an ancient Tang Dynasty Buddhist temple nestled amid ancient trees on Cuiping Mountain’s back slope in Yibin, covers about 15 mu, with over 20 clergy, 60+ permanent lay Buddhists, and around 100,000 followers. By the 1960s only the dilapidated Qianfo Platform remained; it was revitalized in 1995 by relocating the eastern city’s Huiming Temple there. The mountain-backed temple features a central axis with Qianfo Hall, Mahavira Hall, etc., west wing with Arhat Hall and Drum Tower, east wing with Qianfo Stone Tablets and Bell Tower, plus supporting facilities like tea houses for rest. Directly ahead is Zhenjue Temple (now Zhao Yiman Memorial Hall, formerly Cuiping Academy), with Nezha Palace to the west and two cloud-piercing pagodas on the rear summit offering panoramic views of the three rivers.
1. Qianfo Hall (Thousand Buddha Hall)
As the first hall on the central axis after entering the temple, it is dedicated to a thousand small Buddha statues. The statues are exquisitely carved, each with unique expressions, embodying the temple’s naming origin of "thousand Buddhas."
2. Main Buddha Hall
The core building of the temple, with a single-eave gable roof. Inside, there are three bronze Buddhas (Sakyamuni, Amitabha, and Medicine Buddha) cast in the Ming Dynasty, each 4 meters tall, weighing over 5 tons. The hall’s beams are decorated with exquisite wood carvings of dragons and phoenixes.
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Basic Information
1. Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff
· Opening Hours: 8:00 AM - 6:00 PM (March-October); 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM (November-February); last entry 1 hour before closing.
· Ticket Details:
Adult Ticket: CNY 50/person.
Discount Tickets: CNY 25/person for students (with valid ID), seniors aged 60-69 (with ID card); free for children under 1.2 meters, seniors over 70, and disabled people (with relevant certificates).
Booking Channel: On-site purchase at the ticket office or advance booking via the official WeChat account "Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff Scenic Area."
2. Yibin Qianfo Temple
· Opening Hours: 7:30 AM - 6:00 PM (all year round); prayer ceremonies are held at 9:00 AM every Buddhist festival.
· Ticket Details:
Admission: Free for all visitors.
Donation: Voluntary donation box available at the temple entrance for those who wish to support the temple’s maintenance.
Guided Tour: CNY 50/group for a temple guide (reservation required one day in advance via the temple office).
Practical Travel Tips
1. Best Visiting Time
· Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff: March-April (peach blossoms bloom along the Jialing River) and September-October (cool weather, suitable for hiking); avoid weekends and holidays to avoid crowds.
· Yibin Qianfo Temple: Early morning (7:30-9:00 AM) to experience the morning prayer ceremony and enjoy the quiet temple atmosphere; winter (December-February) for clear views of the river confluence.
2. Tour Preparation
· Clothing: Wear non-slip shoes (mountain paths are steep); bring a light jacket in spring and autumn (temperature difference in mountains).
· Supplies: Carry a water bottle, sun hat, and sunscreen; bring a camera (no flash when taking photos of ancient statues to avoid damage).
· Guide Tools: Download the official audio guide app of Thousand Buddha Cliff or rent an audio device (CNY 30/unit)
3. Etiquette
· No Touching: Do not touch stone carvings or statues with hands (sweat and oil can corrode the surface).
· Temple Etiquette: Keep quiet in Qianfo Temple; remove hats when entering the main hall; do not take photos of monks without permission.
Thousand Buddha Cliff and Qianfo Temple are not just scenic spots, but living "textbooks" of Sichuan’s ancient culture. Every stone carving, every hall, and every bell sound carries the weight of history. We hope this guide helps you have a meaningful journey—while appreciating the beauty of the relics, remember to protect them so that this cultural treasure can be passed on to future generations.
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