Wuxi – Home of the Giant Buddha
Wuxi is a city located between Nanjing and Suzhou, on the north side of Taihu Lake. The city’s most famous attraction is the Lingshan Grand Buddha Scenic Area, home to one of the tallest statues in the world. Here you can find many Buddhist sites and relics. Wuxi also sits on the Grand Canal, the longest artificial waterway in the world.
Wuxi is a city that many people outside of China haven’t heard of, but it has some great sites to see and is worth visiting for a short trip. With it being so close to Nanjing, Suzhou and Shanghai, it would be worth visiting as part of a larger trip to these other cities.
Things to do in Wuxi
Lingshan Grand Buddha Scenic Area
The Lingshan Grand Buddha Scenic Area is to the west of Wuxi. This area is host to multiple Buddhist scenic spots including a giant Buddhist statue and grand halls and temples. You can easily spend most of the day here exploring all the different sites and immersing yourself in the culture of Buddhism.
Of course the most prominent site in the area is the Grand Buddha. This statue is one of the largest in the world. The statue is 88m tall and weighs over 700 tons.
There are quite a few stairs to climb to reach the statue, then once you’re there you can enter the lotus pedestal and ascend to the statues feet for a bit of a view over the park.
Another site is the Brahma Palace. This massive white building houses lots of Buddhist artwork and statues.
Inside the main hall of the palace you can watch a show. It starts with videos before the screen lifts to reveal a set with real actors.
Also check out the incredible ceiling inside the hall.
Two more spots to visit are the Manfeilong Tower and the Five Seal Mandala temple. The tower is bright white and shines in the sun, but can’t be entered.
The Mandala temple sits in the middle of a small lake. Outside you’ll find lots of prayer ribbons as well as prayer wheels.
You can head to the top for another great view across the scenic area.
Another spot to see is the Buddha’s Hand. This hand sculpture is 11.7m tall and is a 1:1 replica of the right hand of the Grand Buddha statue. You can walk past and touch the hand which is believed to grant good fortune and longevity.
Nearby is another statue. This one is “100 Children Playing with Maitreya Buddha”. The smiling Buddha is lying down with little statues of children playing various games or doing different activities across his body.
Finally, don’t miss the water fountain show. The fountain, called “Nine Dragons Bathing Sakyamuni,” appears like a tall statue. When the music begins the water starts shooting into the sky and the lotus petals open to reveal a statue of a Buddha.
The Lingshan Grand Buddha Scenic Area is an incredible Buddhist site and is definitely worth visiting when you’re in Wuxi.
Grand Canal
The Grand Canal is the longest artificial waterway in the world. It is a system of interconnected canals linking various cities across northeast China. It was an important means of waterborne transport in Medieval China.
The part that runs through Wuxi is called the Jiangnan Canal. It’s worth visiting at night when the banks of the canal and the boats are lit up.
Nanchan Temple
Nanchan Temple, built along the banks of the Grand Canal, is another spot in Wuxi worth visiting at night when it’s lit up and alive with locals. Within the temple grounds you can buy traditional handicrafts, souvenirs and street food. It’s a good place to enjoy the local nighttime atmosphere in Wuxi.
