Trips around Chongqing: Tongnan Dafo Temple

Tongnan Dafo Temple, located at the foot of Dingming Mountain in Tongnan District, was initially built during the Xian Tong period of the Tang Dynasty (860–873 AD) and was originally named "Nanchan Temple." During the Zhiping period of the Northern Song Dynasty (1064–1067 AD), it was bestowed the name "Dingming Yuan." Later, due to the carving of a large Buddha statue into the mountain and the construction of the Dafo Pavilion, it was renamed "Dafo Temple." The temple scenic area, situated in the western suburbs of Tongnan County, Chongqing, at the foot of Dingming Mountain, is a national key cultural relic protection site. 📍Detailed address: Dafo Road, Tongnan District, Chongqing 🕙Opening hours: 08:30–17:30 🚉Transportation guide: Take Tongnan bus No. 101 or 107 and get off at Dafo Temple Station ⏳Tour time: 1–2 hrs 💰Ticket price: Free admission ❤Recommended reason: The scenic area preserves 126 niches and 928 Buddhist and Taoist cliff carvings dating back over 1,400 years, originating in the Sui Dynasty, flourishing in the Tang and Song Dynasties. It features one of the earliest ancient Chinese buildings with a fully glazed tile roof, the Dafo Pavilion. It also boasts "Stone Steps Qin Sound," one of the four ancient echo structures in China, the largest overhead "Buddha" character in the country, and rare natural echo walls like "Ocean Tide Sound," "Emerald Screen Autumn Moon," and "Yellow Silk Canopy," among other eighteen scenic spots. 🌟Highlights: Home to the world's first indoor gilded cliff carving of the Great Buddha—Tongnan Dafo 📝Tips: Next to the temple is the Tongnan Museum, which offers free parking and detailed graphic explanations of Dafo Temple. You can visit both together.