[Photo provided to wuxi.gov.cn]
Lingshan Mountain Scenic Area features 27 smaller sites, with the Grand Buddha, Nine Dragons Bathing Shakyamuni, and Brahma Palace recognized as the three main wonders. These structures are aligned along the mountain, starting from the south at the mountain gate to the north at the Grand Buddha, creating a central axis. Other buildings are positioned on either side of this axis. The area showcases traditional Chinese craftsmanship, including wood, stone, and jade carvings, resulting in a majestic and harmonious layout that exudes solemn grandeur.
The Grand Buddha measures 88 meters in height and is made from 725 metric tons of bronze. Its form is constructed by assembling and welding 2,000 cast copper panels, covering an unfolded area of almost 9,000 square meters. The combined length of all welds on these panels totals 35 kilometers.
The Nine Dragons Bathing Shakyamuni sculptures are an authentic reproduction of the legendary birth of Shakyamuni. The 7.2-meter-tall Prince Siddhartha statue is fully gilded. During sacred moments, auspicious mist emanates around the lotus bud, and a lotus flower blooms gently as the Prince Siddhartha statue rises from the center. When the lotus fully blossoms, nine dragon fountains will spout water over 30 m into the air, bathing the statue.
Brahma Palace spans along the mountain, featuring five pagodas at the summit and a mandala altar at the rear. It measures 150 m wide at the front, 180 m deep, and reaches a maximum height of 66.5 m. The total construction area covers 72,000 sq m.
The Brahma Palace brings together experts and elites from various fields in modern China, including architecture, design, Buddhism, painting, and music. It combines Chinese Buddhist grotto art with traditional Buddhist architecture, establishing itself as an innovative leader in Buddhist architectural art and earning the reputation of being the Oriental Louvre Museum.
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