The Great Buddha is sitting in lotus position on the top of Mt. Bagua, kindly overlooking Changhua to keep an eye on it. The locals and the ones who are approaching Changhua City habitually look up at it, regardless of religion. It is an important landmark of Changhua County, and is a must-visit place in Changhua that attracts an endless stream of tourists.
The solemn Great Buddha was completed in 1961. It was once one of the top ten popular tourist attractions in Taiwan and had been included in the itineraries of school excursions and graduation trips. From south to north Taiwan, almost everyone has a commemorative photo with the Great Buddha. It intertwines many memories to increase the thickness of the history.
The Great Buddha Scenic Area in Mt. Bagua has been gradually developed over half a century. In addition to the solemn statue of Sakyamuni Buddha , there are rich recreational resources in the surrounding area. Approaching the Great Buddha Scenic Area, the first thing to come into view is the majestic entrance arch, before the “Buddha Steps." The end of the stairs seems to be the sky embellished with trees, and there are thirty-two stone carving statues of Avalokitesvara on both sides, leading tourists to go up the stairs with peace of mind. Later, the giant 22-meter-tall statue of Sakyamuni Buddha sitting in lotus position on the lotus seat appears suddenly on the right hand side, whose tremendous size that was once the largest one in Asia fills tourists with admiration.
In front of the Great Buddha, there are two eye-catching facial washed terrazzo lion statues playing with pearls, solemn and joyful. They are also extraordinary in size, and are both historical buildings. Moreover, tourists can find a bell pavilion before them.
The Great Buddha statue, which is a six-floor building, has two entrances located respectively on the right and left sides of the lotus seat under the Great Buddha. After renovation, four out of six floors are open to the public. Among which, 1st floor is the Buddha room for worshipping Sakyamuni Buddha and lighting butter lamps for blessing, and 2nd to 4th floors are places to present the story of Buddha's life via clay statues.
The Great Buddha statue, which is a six-floor building, has two entrances located respectively on the right and left sides of the lotus seat under the Great Buddha. After renovation, four out of six floors are open to the public. Among which, 1st floor is the Buddha room for worshipping Sakyamuni Buddha and lighting butter lamps for blessing, and 2nd to 4th floors are places to present the story of Buddha's life via clay statues.
Behind the Great Buddha Hall, there is a garden landscape with two nine-story Bagua Pagodas on both sides. The park on the south side with shady trees is equipped with installation art and connects to the skywalk.
Nine Dragon Plaza located in front of the Great Buddha statue, near the end of the Buddha Steps. The periphery of the plaza is a suspended walkway that offers 270-degree landscape viewing. The design affords generous vistas of the surrounding landscape. Following the gaze direction of Buddha to gaze down at the Saha world, the urban jungle of Changhua with a vast expanse of cultivated land stretched comes to sight, where buildings looks like small building blocks. Offshore wind power plants and sparkling waves on the west coast are also available on a clear day.
Nine Dragon Plaza includes a Nine Dragon Pond, which was built in 1963, and a relief sculpture of nine dragons in the center. The literary cloister running along the edge of the plaza presents many calligraphy works from famous calligraphers on the walls, exuding an atmosphere of classic. The 270-degree aerial circular viewing walkway above the cloister is the best view point for overlooking Changhua and looking up at the Great Buddha statue.
The walkway faces west. When the sun sets slowly, row upon row of buildings seem to be bathed in golden light. The setting sun sinks into the horizon in an instant, lighting the last wave of the distant ocean. Then the night falls and thousands of lights are on. It is known as the top view point to appreciate the most beautiful sunset, making Guashan sunset photos the insta-worthy ones.
After sunset, go down the mountain and visit Changhua City, the city with the most historical sites in Taiwan, to appreciate the rich cultural heritage and taste the well-know local culinary delights. For those who had visited the city before went up the mountain, looking back at their travel footprints from the viewing walkway is also a wonderful end to their trip.
