Shaoxing Xinchang Dafo Temple | A Zen Journey for the Soul

Overview Xinchang Dafo Temple is located in Ming Street, Xinchang County, Shaoxing City, Zhejiang Province. It was built in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and is the only early stone cave statue in southern China. It is known as the "Dunhuang of Yue State" and is a national 4A-level scenic spot, a national scenic spot, a national geological park, a national key cultural relic protection unit, a national key open temple, and a CCTV film and television location. Opening hours May 1 - September 30: 6:00-17:30; October 1 - April 30: 6:00-17:00. Ticket information Full price ticket is CNY 80/person, which can be purchased in advance on third-party platforms with discounts; half price for those over 60 years old, free for those over 70 years old; an additional incense flower ticket of CNY 20/person is required to enter the Dafo Temple; the scenic area tour bus is CNY 5/person for a one-way trip. Transportation guide - Public transportation: You can take a train to Shengzhou Xinchang Station, and then transfer to a bus or taxi. There are many bus lines in Xinchang County, such as Xinchang Line 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, etc., which can go directly to the scenic spot. - Self-driving: Navigate directly to Xinchang Dafo Temple, there is a parking lot in the scenic area, and the fee is CNY 10/time. Tour route You can enter from the gate, go through the ticket gate to Baiyun Lake, enjoy the hanging waterfall, walk the suspended plank road, visit the Thousand Buddha Cave, then go to the Buddha Heart Square, admire the open-air Buddha, visit the Dafo Temple, then go to Fengxiang Forest, Prajna Valley, and finally return to the Buddha Heart Square to exit the scenic area. Main attractions - Stone Maitreya Buddha: It has a history of more than 1,600 years, with a total height of 16.3 meters and a distance of 10.6 meters between the knees. It is the largest Buddha in Jiangnan. - Huayan Three Saints Hall: There are Buddha statues and other buildings and sculpture art worth seeing. - Prajna Valley: There are Zen source waterfalls, grotto reliefs, Aoyu Guanyin statues, etc., where natural landscapes and Buddhist culture are integrated. - Xiguang Jingyuan: The architectural style is simple and elegant, and the environment is quiet. - Buddha Heart Square: There is a huge "Buddha" character from Master Hongyi, surrounded by ancient trees and beautiful scenery. Food recommendations - Xinchang Fried Rice Cake: Soft and glutinous texture, delicious taste. - Xinchang Squeezed Noodles: A special snack with a smooth and chewy texture. - Dafo Longjing: Xinchang's specialty tea, green in color and rich in aroma. Precautions - Keep quiet during the visit and do not make loud noises. - There are many Buddha statues and cultural relics in the temple, pay attention to protection, and do not touch them at will. - The back mountain is relatively steep, pay attention to safety when playing, and do not climb.