Since established in 1998, Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone (三亚南山文化旅游区), one of the most famous Buddhist resorts in China, has organized the construction of such large-scale cultural projects. Nanshan Temple not only has the world's largest statue of Avalokitesvara in white - Guanyin of Nanshan (108-meter-high). There are also the Gold and Jade Guanyin Bodhisattva Statue (the largest golden jade Buddha statue in the world) and Thirty-three Statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva that are enshrined in the Guinness Book. Besides, the scenic spot, facing the South China Sea which is boundlessly green and misty and connected with mountains incessantly, witnesses fabulously wonderful scenery.
People here, on one hand, can derive the spiritual comfort from Buddhist culture and appreciate the fun of returning to nature and the harmony between heaven and man. On the other hand, enjoy the great scenes formed by the sunshine of the tropical seaside, sea water, beach, flowers, and green trees.
Covering an area of over 30 square kilometers, temples, statues, luxuriant rainforest and open sea are the highlights of Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone.
Click to Enlarge Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone Attraction Map © nanshan.com
The 108-meter Guanyin of Nanshan (南山海上观音) is 15 meters taller than the Statue of Liberty. It is the world's largest and highest statue of Avalokitesvara in white. The statue is made of titanium alloy. The Guanyin of Nanhai has three sides, the first side is holding lotus, the second side is holding Buddhist scrolls, and the third side is holding Buddha beads. The statue steps on the lotus seat, which has four layers and 108 petals, about 10 meters high. Under the lotus seat is the Vajrasana, and inside is the Yuantong Palace with an area of 15,000 square meters. The Vajrasana is connected to the shore by the 280-meter-long Puji Bridge. The Guanyin of Nanshan, 60000-square-meter Guanyin Square and theme park on both sides of the square, together constitute an area of nearly 300,000 square meters of the "Budda Cultural Garden" scenic spot.
Guanyin of Nanshan
Nanshan Temple (南山寺) is the southernmost Buddhist temple in China, known as the "Temple Hidden in the Jungle between the Sea and the Sky". It is a large temple group built on the hillside, facing the sea and in the architecture style of the flourishing Tang Dynasty. The scenic area is a fusion of Buddhist culture, architecture, gardens, sightseeing, etc. The main scenic spots here include Renwang Palace, Gold Temple, Zen Hall, Prabhutaratna Tower and Temple of the Future Buddha, etc.
The main hall of Nanshan Temple is called the Gold Temple (金堂). The three main statues enshrined in the Gold Hall represent the Transverse Buddhas (Buddhas in three different worlds). On the both sides of Golden Hall sit 16 Arhats, called the 16 Nagasenas then; they are the earliest Arhats according to Chinese legends. The building is the largest Buddhist monastery in the past 50 years, as well as the largest temple in southern China.
Nanshan Temple
The world-famous "Gold and Jade Guanyin Bodhisattva Statue (南山金玉观音)" is enshrined in the resplendent Guanyin Pavilion. The statue is inlaid with the relic of Sakyamuni. It is 3.8 meters high and consists of four parts: the golden body, the light of Buddha, the lotus seat and the Sumeru base. The Buddha statue is made of more than 100 kilograms of gold, over 120 karats of South African diamonds and 100 kilograms of emerald jade and other rare treasures. With a total value of CNY 192,000,000, it is a statue gem with the national style and spirit of the times, and a rare treasure in the history of contemporary arts and Buddhist statues arts. On November 27th, 1998, it was confirmed as the world's largest gold and jade Buddha statue and recorded in the 1999 Guinness Book.
Gold and Jade Guanyin Bodhisattva Statue © mafengwo.com
The Thirty-three Statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva (三十三观音法像) mainly displays the group image of 33 Avalokitesvaras' dharmakaya recorded in The Universal Door of the Bodhisattva Who Listens to the Sounds of All the World, which was crafted by more than 130 craftsmen over four years. Each of the statues has a different posture, looks lifelike and vivid. Known as the world's largest 33 statues group of Guanyin, it has been recorded in the "Guinness World Record", and became a handed down treasure in the Chinese Buddhist circle!
Thirty-three Statues of Guanyin Bodhisattva
The Long Live Valley (长寿谷) is located at the eastern foot of Nanshan Mountain. The 2,300-meter-long valley is a wonder of the rainforest with singing birds, flowing streams, lush trees and peculiar rocks. The designer of the scenic spot skillfully uses nature to shape the landscape, revealing the core of the traditional "longevity" culture from different angles in "flow" and "static", and integrating the longevity culture into the wonders of the tropical rainforest. The main Spots here include Longevity Pines, Baisui Road and Baishou Hall, etc.
Long Live Valley
As the largest and perfect construction of large-scaled Buddhist theme scenic spots in Sanya, there are many Buddhist activities and festivals held in the scenic spot every year.
Buddhist Activities:
Besides religious activities, there are also many other featured activities and festivals held in Nanshan, Sanya, such as the Nanshan Longevity Cultural Festival (on Double-Ninth Festival) and Sanya Nanshan Three World Tai Chi Cultural Festival, etc.
Nanshan Cultural Tourism Area is located 40 kilometers (50~60 minutes by car) southwest from downtown Sanya, with a driving distance of 26 kilometers (30 minutes by car) to Sanya Phoenix International Airport and 18 kilometers (30 minutes by car) to Tianya and Haijiao.
As the scenic area is a certain distance from the city, the most convenient way for visitors to get to Nanshan is by taking a private car or taxi. Tianya and Haijiao Scenic Area is located between downtown Sanya and Nanshan. You can also drop by and spend 1~2 hours there.
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There are sightseeing buses (require extra payment) in the Nanshan Scenic Area. If you travel with the elderly and children, you can choose to take sightseeing buses. If you have enough time and good physical conditions, you can also explore highlights in the scenic area on foot.
Sanya Nanshan Cultural Tourist Zone Location Map
Nanshan Cultural Tourist Zone Sightseeing Bus
1. Tickets in Nanshan Cultural Tourist Zone: Price of Entrance Ticket: CNY 108/person; Scenic Spots Require Extra Payments: Guanyin of Nanshan, CNY 25/person; Gold and Jade Guanyin Bodhisattva Statue CNY 20/person. (Notice: Prices given above are only for your reference, which might change according to the real situation.)
2. Temple Visit Etiquette: The temple is usually entered from the left and left from the right. When entering Nanshan Temple, do not step on the threshold, you should step into the temple with your right foot;
3. Nanshan Food: The Vegetarian Dish in Nanshan Temple is very famous and tastes good. It amasses the essence of temple vegetarian food, gathering vegetarian diet of royal families and that of common people. Its raw materials include wild mushroom, bean product, Konjac fiber and local seasonal vegetables and fruits. The Vegetarian buffet at Yuanqilou (缘起楼) is recommended.
Best Time to Visit Sanya: October ~ Next May
Places to Visit: Various bays, Betelnut Valley, Nanshan Buddhism Cultural Park, Yanoda Rainforest Park
How to Get There: International flights from London, Singapore, Seoul, Jakarta, Moscow, Novosibirsk, etc., and domestic/regional flights from most major cities like Beijing, Xian, Shanghai, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Chongqing, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, etc.
Generally, a Sanya tour can be short or long, and many travelers choose to stay in Sanya for about 4~7 days. We suggest you visit at least one bay for a real "holiday", such as Yalong Bay, Sanya Bay, Dadonghai Bay or Haitang Bay where you can immerse yourself in the relaxing atmosphere by taking a sunbath, strolling on the soft beach, viewing the coastal scenery, etc. It is also available to spend several hours or more time experiencing some watersports, such as diving, surfing, yacht, fishing, etc. For travelers interested in the primitive nature of tropical forests, Yalong Bay Tropical Paradise Forest Park or Yanoda Rainforest Park, which needs 0.5~1 day, is worthwhile. Besides, Nanshan Temple (0.5~1 day) with the world’s largest statue of Avalokitesvara - Nanhai Guanyin is also recommended if you have a Buddhist faith or want to appreciate a religious savory. For travelers needing an in-depth tour, Binglanggu is a nice option for local minorities exploration!
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Want to escape the crowds and explore Hainan? Don't miss Haikou - the capital city with lots of culture fun. A classic Haikou tour takes about 2 days. The top highlights include informative Hainan Museum, old buildings in Qilou Old Street, Volcanic Crater Park, etc. Besides, you can spend 1~2 days exploring the undeveloped bays and uninhabited islands, 1~2 days appreciating the peaceful town of Boao and its unique natural landscapes, 1~2 days involving in the sunny homeland of minorities in Lingshui, etc.
Notice: The pictures on this page, except for additional remarks, are all from the official website of Nanshan Cultural Tourism Zone.
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