China Buddhist Tour
Yung-kang is one of the most remarkable Buddhist sites for the massive simplicity of its immense rock-carved Buddhas and the delicate ornamentation of its narrative reliefs. Work on the cave shrines was started by the emperor of the first Wei dynasty in AD 460, in response to persecution of Buddhists over the previous twenty years. In the next decades, in the limestone river cliffs at Lung-men (5th-6th centuries), Wei dynasty monumental carving achieved a spiritual and aesthetic perfection never repeated. The giant Buddhas at Yung-kang recall Indian prototypes; at Lung-men early Buddhist and Mahayana motifs converge in a graceful, serene and authentically Chinese idiom.
Top Things To Do on a China Buddhist Tour
| Activity |
Description |
Location |
| Visit the Shaolin Temple |
Explore the birthplace of Chan (Zen) Buddhism and witness traditional Shaolin kung fu performances. |
Dengfeng, Henan |
| Marvel at the Leshan Giant Buddha |
Stand before the world’s largest stone-carved Buddha statue, carved into a cliff near Mount Emei. |
Sichuan Province |
| Explore the Longmen Grottoes |
See thousands of Buddha carvings etched into cliffs along the Yi River—UNESCO World Heritage Site. |
Luoyang, Henan |
| Tour the White Horse Temple |
Visit China's first Buddhist temple, symbolizing the introduction of Buddhism to China. |
Luoyang, Henan |
| Pilgrimage to Mount Emei |
Ascend one of the Four Sacred Buddhist Mountains in China, dotted with temples and monasteries. |
Sichuan Province |
| Climb Mount Putuo |
Explore this island sanctuary known as the Bodhimanda of Guanyin, the Goddess of Mercy. |
Zhejiang Province |
| Join a Meditation Retreat |
Practice mindfulness and traditional Zen meditation with monks in serene monastic environments. |
Various Temples |
| Explore the Mogao Caves |
Visit the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas," an ancient repository of Buddhist art and manuscripts. |
Dunhuang, Gansu |
| Attend a Buddhist Chanting Ceremony |
Join the monks in chanting ancient Buddhist scriptures during sacred rituals. |
Temples throughout China |
| Enjoy Buddhist Vegetarian Cuisine |
Taste nourishing and symbolic vegetarian meals prepared in temple kitchens. |
Monasteries and Retreat Centers |
Famous Buddhist Sites in China
| Sacred Site |
Spiritual Significance |
Highlights |
| Shaolin Temple |
Cradle of Chan Buddhism and Shaolin Kung Fu |
Kung fu shows, meditation halls, ancient pagoda forest |
| Leshan Giant Buddha |
Largest stone Buddha statue in the world |
Scenic cruise, panoramic view, Mount Emei nearby |
| Mount Emei |
One of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains |
Golden Summit, monasteries, hiking trails |
| White Horse Temple |
First Buddhist temple in China, over 2,000 years old |
Historic relics, statues, calm gardens |
| Longmen Grottoes |
UNESCO World Heritage Site with Buddha carvings |
Thousands of statues and inscriptions in caves |
| Mount Putuo |
Sacred site of Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) |
Island temples, sea views, quiet pilgrimage walks |
| Mogao Caves |
Buddhist art and scripture archives along Silk Road |
Murals, manuscripts, ancient cave temples |