The largest Maitreya Buddha statue in Southeast Asia appears by the Ermei Lake

By Jiang Mingli, Interview & Report

With the Taiwan Good Bus traveling through well-known scenic spots across the country, many people can more conveniently explore the beautiful scenery of towns and villages. Among them, the Hsinchu–Shishan route features an emerging attraction located by the beautiful Ermei Lake in Hsinchu, where a towering 72-meter-tall Maitreya Buddha statue stands proudly.

The Maitreya Buddha statue glows with a golden hue under the blazing sun, wearing a cheerful smile and radiating joy, as if telling you that no worry or difficulty is insurmountable—just looking at it naturally calms the mind. This statue was built by the China International Nature Lovers Promotion Association, which belongs to the "Maitreya Path" faith group, firmly believing in the idea of one global family. The Ermei Lake in Hsinchu is the location of the organization’s world headquarters. All hardware and software facilities are expected to be completed by the end of 2011 or spring 2012. Currently, visitors can view the main hall and the exterior of the Maitreya Buddha from the outside.

The Maitreya Buddha statue, crafted from 3,000 pieces of bronze and built at a cost of 700 million TWD, began construction in 2000. The fifth floor of the statue has been specially designed as an observation deck, offering views of all the scenic spots within the Maitreya Path compound. The main hall serves not only as the meeting venue for the world headquarters but also houses a 50-meter-tall seated Maitreya Buddha, which will also be open to visitors when completed. The tour takes about an hour, and guides from the compound will lead visitors. Starting from the three entrance gates—the Happiness Gate, Joy Gate, and Delight Gate—visitors will walk along the approximately 200-meter-long pilgrimage path, pass through the central courtyard planted with pine trees, and then enter the main hall. The hall can accommodate over a thousand visitors. In the initial phase, visitor numbers will be limited to ensure a quality experience. To get there, take the Taiwan Good Bus Hsinchu–Shishan line and get off at the Ermei Station, then transfer to the Hsinchu Good Bus Twelve-Liao Line and get off at the Tianen Maitreya Buddha Station.

Tianen Maitreya Buddha Temple website: www.the-inta.org.tw