Thousand Buddha Ridge

Thousand Buddha Ridge

Thousand Buddha Ridge is located southwest of Longzui Village in Qianfo Ridge Township, and is divided into Upper Temple, Lower Market, and Rear Temple. Nearby are ancient relics such as the Laojun Temple and Sun Bin Stronghold, as well as naturally formed caves like the North Wind Cave, which are documented by inscriptions.

Thousand Buddha Ridge is an offshoot of Mount Heng, situated approximately 25 kilometers southwest of Tianfeng Peak. Here, graceful and uniquely shaped solitary peaks are arranged in an orderly fashion, clusters of lush pines and cypresses dot the valleys, and various rare flowers and plants blanket the mountaintops and cliffs. Rare birds sing among the treetops, and exotic animals roam unpredictably. It embodies both the scenery of northern China and the charm of southern landscapes, truly making it a unique earthly paradise. The ridge features fascinating natural rock formations such as Turtle Rock and Camel Rock.

On rainy or cloudy days, when clouds drift around the peaks and mist envelops the ridges, the scenery becomes especially enchanting. Looking out, the southern peak of Thousand Buddha Ridge resembles the Immortal Palm Peak of Mount Huashan, while the undulating Chicken Comb Rock is reminiscent of Zhurong Peak on Mount Heng. The sharp stone ridges to the west look like the Jade Emperor Summit of Mount Tai. Turning north, the Sun Bin Stronghold and Pang Juan Ridge, which point directly toward the sky, appear and disappear amid the clouds and mist, clearly echoing the cloud-enveloped peaks of Mount Huangshan.

At the top of Thousand Buddha Ridge lies a natural rock slab, upon which stands a small brick pagoda about seven meters high, built in imitation of wooden architecture. It bears four powerful characters: “Thousand Buddha Pagoda.” The pagoda has four stories and is a solid pavilion-style structure. Its base is two meters high and hexagonal in shape, with exquisitely carved patterns adorning its body. On the southern side of the rock beneath the pagoda are three caves, collectively known as the “Thousand Buddha Caves.” The front and both sides of the cave entrance feature large stone Buddha statues nearly two meters tall, while thousands of smaller stone Buddhas are carved all around the cave. Walking around to the right, you’ll find an even larger stone Buddha, leaning slightly, eyes half-open, resting its chin on one hand. Two other large caves are divided into upper and lower levels, connected by winding paths. The upper cave houses eight stone Buddha statues of varying sizes, each uniquely shaped and lifelike.

Transportation

Take a bus from Datong Bus Station to Hunyuan, costing about 20 yuan, then transfer within Hunyuan County to

a bus heading to Thousand Buddha Ridge, with tickets priced at around 5–10 yuan.

Location

Hunyuan County, Datong City

Qianfo Ridge Township: Covering an area of 193.42 square kilometers with a population of 15,188, Qianfo Ridge Township has its government seat in Qianfo Ridge. It administers 36 village committees. It was formed through the merger and renaming of Zhongzhuangpu and Wen Zhuang. ... More detailed information about Qianfo Ridge Township++