Jinping Mountain Scenic Area-Mile Temple

Jinping Mountain Scenic Area-Mile Temple is located on the hillside of Jinping Mountain, with its complex of red walls and yellow tiles nestled among lush trees. The temple was first built in the Song Dynasty and has been renovated and expanded many times throughout the dynasties, with incense burning continuously for hundreds of years. The temple consists of three major courtyards: Daxiong Courtyard, Dazhi Courtyard, and Dayun Courtyard. Each courtyard enshrines a Maitreya Buddha statue in one of five forms: Jampa, Crowned, Contemplative, Xianguang, and Budai. It is rare to see statues of both Han and Tibetan styles in the same temple. Ascend nearly 2,000 stone steps to reach the foot of the Great Maitreya Buddha at the heart of the mountain. The golden statue, nearly 20 m tall, greets visitors with a smile and is the iconic view of the entire mountain; visitors who prefer not to climb the stairs can also take a vehicle directly up the mountain. The mountain is lush with trees, quiet, and serene, making it quite pleasant for hiking to cool off or taking a mindful stroll in the summer.