Exploring Linshan | The Qianfo Temple Cliff Carvings Facing the Tathagata

The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings are located about 3 kilometers south of the Tun Tou group in Xifang Village, Jiucheng Palace Town, Linyou County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province, on the Lama Hat Mountain, and belong to the Tang and Song dynasties' carving style. The Qianfo Temple is situated on Dian Mountain, which has an altitude of 1600 meters and is the highest peak in Linyou. The top of the Baichi Cliff is slightly flat and round, with steep cliffs on both sides, resembling the shape of a hat, hence the local name 'Lama Hat Mountain.' This name itself carries a Buddhist connotation. The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings are carved on the cliffs of the Baichi Cliff of Lama Hat Mountain, collectively depicting the scene of a thousand Buddhas attending a sermon by the Tathagata. 🌟Highlight: The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings catered to the Tang dynasty's Buddhist beliefs. Buddhism flourished during the Tang dynasty, with Emperor Taizong and Emperor Gaozong frequently visiting the Jiucheng Palace to escape the summer heat. Inspired by the Buddhist worship at the royal temple, the Cishan Temple Grottoes, numerous donations were made to build temples and carve cliff carvings near the palace, with the Qianfo Temple cliff carvings being a typical example. The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings feature a thousand Buddhas with a thousand expressions, each delicately and vividly portrayed, with immense artistic value. The carvings face east and cover an area about 8 meters wide, with a total of 1021 relief sculptures of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, Kings, Warriors, and Arhats, with a large Buddha in the center, a smaller Buddha in a niche to the north, and two Bodhisattvas further north. Below the large Buddha is a small seated Buddha. To the left, right, and below the large Buddha, over a thousand small Buddhas are carved on several layers, each with a unique pose and expression, depicting joy, anger, sorrow, pleasure, worry, grief, resentment, and hatred. The myriad of forms and expressions are unique and infinitely charming, making it a true treasure. The 'little black room' that cannot be approached is a huge temptation for tourists. About 50 meters north of the Qianfo Temple cliff carvings, there is a niche with four Buddha statues. To the south of the niche is a large Buddha statue and an inscription from the first year of Emperor Xuantong of the Qing Dynasty (1909). In the cliff beside the Buddha statue, there is a wooden niche with a painted arch, all made of wood, which people call the 'little black room.' This niche, with its upturned eaves and half-embedded in the cliff, is inaccessible today without a drone, reflecting the hardships of the craftsmen who carved and built it and their sincere devotion to Buddha. The cliffs of the Qianfo Temple are steep, the trees lush, vines grow wildly, the shade is dense, and the valley is filled with the fragrance of birds and flowers, and the sound of streams, offering a beautiful scenery. It is indeed a secret spot for sightseeing that combines cultural and natural ecological landscapes. Past photos show that the pagoda-like towers and eave-connected halls built against the cliff during the Tang dynasty have been destroyed, leaving only several oval tenon holes on the cliff. The Qianfo Temple cliff carvings are all exposed, severely damaged by natural weathering and human factors . ✅ During this field visit, it was discovered that a pavilion-style eave-connected hall has been built over the carvings to protect the cultural relics . 📍Detailed address: On the cliffs of Baichi Cliff, Lama Hat Mountain, about 3 kilometers south of Tun Tou group, Xifang Village, Jiucheng Palace Town, Linyou County, Baoji City, Shaanxi Province. 🚉Transportation strategy: Take the Linyou No. 3 tourist bus from the bus station, get off at the Qianfo Temple scenic spot stop, walk across the Tun Tou Reservoir dam, and follow the gravel road to the foot of Lama Hat Mountain, then climb up the 'S' shaped path in the valley for about 30 minutes. Drive along Fenghuang Road to the gate of Xifang Village Committee, turn left and follow the cement road of Xifang Village to the Tun Tou Reservoir dam, then walk up the mountain, following the same route as above. 🕙Opening hours: All day 💰Ticket price: Free 📝Tips: Prepare hiking or sports shoes for outdoor activities; The paths between the cliffs are narrow and slippery, so bring a walking stick or find a stick on-site to serve as both a cane and a tool for clearing the way; Carry a bottle of mosquito repellent when walking in the mountains to prevent insect bites; Be highly vigilant in summer and autumn, watch out for attacks by poisonous snakes and other creatures; Bring a bottle of drinking water; Special reminder: Do not sightsee while climbing, stand still to enjoy the view, be careful near the cliff edges, and ensure a firm footing and grip.