Qianshan National Park

Lore & Background

According to legend, the park was created when the goddess Nüwa dropped a stone while patching the sky, causing the earth to form thousands of peaks shaped like lotus blossoms. This gave the park its full name, Thousand Lotus Flower Mountains. The area has a long history of religious worship dating back to the Tang dynasty, with enhancements during the Ming and Qing dynasties. During the twentieth century, the site was abandoned and some buildings were damaged, but it has since been restored and expanded with new pagodas and temples for the Maitreya Buddha.

Reader's Guide

Qianshan National Park is significant as one of the few locations where both Buddhism and Taoism are found sharing the same site. Its centerpiece is a 70-meter-high naturally occurring statue of Maitreya Buddha, claimed to be the largest such image in the world. The park is densely wooded, with 95% forest cover and over ten thousand pine trees estimated to be older than 100 years. It hosts rare flora and fauna, including the black-headed stork, and over a hundred bird species. Motor cars are not allowed; visitors walk or use electric carts, and three cable car routes provide access to scenic peaks. The park also hosts the annual Qianshan Great Buddha Festival in June. Its legacy lies in its blend of natural beauty, religious history, and cultural festivals.

Did You Know?

• The park is referred to as 'The Northeast Pearl'.
• The name Qianshan literally means 'Thousand mountains' and is an abbreviation of 'Thousand Lotus Flower Mountains'.
• The naturally occurring statue of Maitreya Buddha is 70 meters high and 46 meters wide.
• Over a hundred different species of birds can be observed in the park, including the rare black-headed stork.