Ten Thousand Buddha Palace (Desert Clay Art Museum)

Ten Thousand Buddha Palace (Desert Clay Art Museum)

Entering the Flaming Mountains, about 2 kilometers south of the famous Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves on the west bank of the Mudi Gully, you can see from afar a complex of earthen clay sculptures—that is the Flaming Mountains Ten Thousand Buddha Palace, built in 1990. It integrates the natural environment, architecture, murals, and sculpture art, possessing a unique artistic charm and visual impact.

The Ten Thousand Buddha Palace greets a continuous stream of domestic and international visitors with large-scale sculptures such as “Ancient Silk Road Fortress,” “Kalakho,” “Princess Iron Fan,” “Tang Seng Preaching Scriptures,” “Maitreya Buddha,” and “Guanyin Hall.” This scenic area consists of 20 spots with rich content, covering everything from ancient myths and legends to ethnic customs and local culture. With historical figures, Uyghur folklore, and fascinating tales of Turpan as its narrative threads, it vividly and comprehensively presents the historical panorama of the important Silk Road city of Turpan through four types of clay art installations: religion, folklore, music and dance, and treasured artifacts.

Covering an area of 30,000 square meters, the Ten Thousand Buddha Palace is nestled against the mountain and near the water, adjacent to National Highway 312, making it easily accessible and set in beautiful natural surroundings. The park features tall Islamic-style buildings with an antique charm and distinctive flavor. Passing through a beautifully patterned archway over ten meters high, built from earthen bricks, you’ll see the Ten Thousand Buddha Palace composed of three domed buildings. The central hall houses a seated Buddha, and the 10-meter-tall painted Buddha is majestic and imposing. It was enlarged based on a red-clothed Buddha sculpture, an exquisite piece unearthed in Yanqi, and is the largest seated Buddha in Xinjiang.

The murals in the left and right halls are respectively based on the murals of the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves in Baicheng and the Bezeklik Grottoes in Turpan, carefully restored and painted. In particular, the depictions of the King and Queen of the Gaochang Uyghurs and their patrons are lifelike and breathtakingly beautiful.

The Ten Thousand Buddha Palace has a dedicated sand therapy area—those interested might want to give it a try.