The Reclining Buddha of Dongjin Mountain

The Reclining Buddha of Dongjin Mountain

This world-class natural stone Buddha was discovered in May 1993 by a senior qigong master from the Buddhist Association of China and recognized by its Inner Mongolia branch.

It is located in Liangcheng County, Ulanqab City, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The reclining Buddha stretches from northeast to southwest along a north-high–south-low mountain ridge, with its head resting on a mountaintop and its feet touching the foothills, gazing up at the sky. The Buddha’s body is formed by the overlapping contours of several mountain peaks, making it one of the rarest structures of a reclining Buddha in the world today. The Buddha’s body is approximately five kilometers long. From a distance, one can only marvel at the grandeur and lifelike image of the reclining Buddha, forming a landscape where “its feet rest on Daihai Lake facing the rising sun, and its head lies on Dragon Mountain worshipping the setting moon.” Experts have pointed out that this is one of the largest stone Buddha statues ever discovered in the world. The Buddha faces south with its head to the north, lying in a supine position with delicate brows and a bright expression, eyes slightly closed, appearing serene and profound. Its upper body is exposed, with a full chest and prominently sculpted breasts, legs slightly bent, and arms lying flat. The entire form is extremely natural and unrestrained, without any forced or contrived elements. Its outline, set against the vast sky, is vivid and flawless. Every summer, when auspicious purple air drifts and lingers halfway up the mountain, the world wonder of “auspicious clouds cradling the Buddha” emerges. This is a masterpiece of nature’s timeless transformation, miraculous craftsmanship, and mystical beauty.

The best viewpoints for observing the reclining Buddha are at the ruins of Huixiang Temple (now near Longhua Sanhui Temple) or at the Shengli Work Station along the Jilian Road. The optimal times are around 8–9 a.m. when sunlight directly hits the mountain, or during sunset. In fact, there has long been a folk saying about the reclining Buddha: “The great Buddha guards the flourishing Daihai, pilgrims worship the sacred mountain where deities reveal their presence; the compassionate and benevolent Buddha saves all beings from the mortal realm.” According to widespread folklore, when the “auspicious clouds cradle the Buddha,” a “mirage” appears on Daihai Lake—the mountains’ reflections layer upon the water, pavilions and towers shimmer in golden splendor, and between the Buddha and the lake, faint singing can be heard, all things seem to come alive, and the entire lakeshore radiates indescribable brilliance, truly a wonder of the frontier. This is a masterpiece of nature’s timeless transformation, miraculous craftsmanship, and mystical beauty.

Source: People's Government of Ulanqab City