After we were done admiring the Zen Grand View in the massive atrium of Foding Palace, we continued to explore deeper into the palace.
Before the descent, we had to put on the shoe covers provided on-site.
We then took a long, deep-pit escalators further into the absolute heart of the palace.
The moment we entered the Thousand Buddhas Hall (千佛殿), we were in complete awe. Also known as The Great Usnisa Hall, this place looked less like a conventional temple and more like an opulent, sci-fi sanctuary.
Towering 21.8 meters high at the center of the hall was an incredibly intricate, multi-layered stupa. It was forged entirely from solid bronze, heavily plated in gold, and inlaid with the Buddhist "Seven Treasures" including crystal, colored glass (琉璃), and gemstones. The blue, bowl-shaped middle segment was crafted using complex, ancient cloisonné enamel techniques.
Overhead, layered geometric rings and a massive, illuminated ceiling glowed with thousands of softly dimming lights, making the entire space feel like an architectural mandala floating in deep space.
On the canopy roof of the 26-meter-high Relic Hall, four splendid and colorful drawing or pattern of the Buddhist Pure Land were meticulously depicted. Surrounding the solemn large Relic Pagoda stand four jade-carved Buddha statues, each 1.2 meters high, which were skillfully divided and intricately carved from a single rare piece of white jade weighing 25 tons.
The Ten Thousand Buddha Corridor consists of the underground third, fourth, and fifth floors. Encircled completely by a sweeping circular viewing gallery, the perimeter walls house tens of thousands of deeply glowing, gold-leaf Buddha niches. The layout perfectly brings to life the classic scriptures depicting the "Ten Thousand Buddhas Encircling Vairocana".
Another view of the stunning hall on an upper level.
We spent about 2 hours exploring the Foding Palace. To the sides and rear of the palace, the terrain fell away into a massive, hidden drop-off. This is the abandoned mining pit over 60 meters deep left behind by mid-20th-century iron excavators.
Our next stop was to visit the Foding Tower (佛顶塔), which will be detailed in my next post.
After ascending via several flights of escalators, we arrived at the stunning Foding Palace (佛顶宫). Also known internationally as the Usnisa Palace, it stands as one of the most visually overwhelming and technologically audacious pieces of religious architecture ever conceived. Built inside a deep, abandoned open-cast iron mine pit on Niushoushan (牛首山), this massive structural marvel spans a total area of 136,000 square meters. Rather than building outward, architects chose to excavate downward, creating a nine-story complex consisting of three above-ground floors and six massive subterranean levels.
The above-ground facade was instantly recognizable for its breathtaking, dual-dome geometric design that flowed naturally along the slope of the mountain. The Large Dome (The Cassock), which measures 120 meters long, is a sprawling, asymmetrical canopy consists of a golden aluminum mesh network. Designed to evoke the draped pattern of a Buddhist monk's robe (Kāṣāya - 袈裟), it appeared to wrap smoothly over the hillside, symbolizing the boundless shelter and blessings of the Buddha.
Nested right beneath the large mesh structure, the smaller inner dome (known as The Hair Bun) was structured out of thousands of individuals, three-dimensional unit modules. Its appearance mimics the traditional curls or "hair bun" of the Buddha (Uṣṇīṣa), representing thousands of faithful believers making individual offerings. It looked a bit similar to our very own Esplanade.
Before entering the palace, we came to the Water Elevator & Reflecting Pool. Stepping into this massive purification zone was intended to calm our mind before the descent.
Descending into the upper subterranean layers revealed the Chan (Zen) State Scenery, a vast open atrium that acted as the entry threshold.
This floor features a massive, 7.5-meter (25-foot) reclining Jade Buddha resting peacefully at the center of a lotus pond. The entire platform slowly revolved, enveloped by natural light filtering down through the mesh overhead, creating an ethereal, misty atmosphere meant to symbolize the moment the Buddha entered Nirvana.
The entire area was massive and very cooling, which made our visit very comfortable without having to walk under the outdoor heat.
The view of the entire atrium was even better on level two.
We spent most of today exploring Niushoushan (牛首山), also known as Ox Head Mountain. Taking a DiDi ride-hailing car was the easiest, most direct way to get from our hotel straight to the gates of Niushoushan. We dropped off at the West Gate as it is significantly closer to the key attractions. From the drop off point, we took the free mini train ride to the ticket office.
After we purchased our admission tickets, we added on the internal shuttle tickets to save our legs. The scenic area is massive and built on a hill. The shuttle bus brought us right at the gate to skip the steep uphill walk and went straight to the main palace area.
After we alighted from the shuttle bus, we needed to ascend further to reach to the palace and pagoda via the escalators.
Niushoushan is a breathtaking cultural and spiritual park located in the Jiangning District of Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China. It derives its name from its twin peaks, which closely resemble the horns of an ox. It is globally renowned for its mind-blowing architectural grandeur, blending ancient spiritual traditions with futuristic design to create what many consider one of the most stunning contemporary temple complexes on earth.
In my next few posts, I will provide more details of the spectacular Foding Palace and Pagoda.
