The Buddhist Monastery at Fokuangshan
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Port
Kaohsiung, Taiwan
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Activity Level
Moderate Activity
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Excursion Type
All
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At (prices in USD)
$140
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
Approximately 5 Hours
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Meals Included
Meals not included
The founder of Buddhism, Siddhartha Gautama, was born more than 2,500 years ago in what is now Southern Nepal. Today, there are 300 million Buddhists worldwide with five million followers in Taiwan. Discover the history of this age-old religion while walking through the countryside just outside of Kaohsiung.
Your journey begins with a relaxing 60-minute drive north to the Fokuangshan Monastery -- Buddha's light mountain. Resting in a bamboo forest at the foot of the mountain, the monastery is home to a complex of structures devoted to the practice of humanistic Buddhism, which applies Buddha's core principles to daily life.
Giant Buddha statues welcome you to the Fo Guang Shan Monaster, founded in 1967 by the venerable master Hsin Yun, Fo Guang Shan is the best known Buddhist center in southern Taiwan and is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan.
Continue to the Buddha Memorial Center, covering more than 247 acres. The design of the Buddha Memorial Center is inspired by both an Indian stupa and the Mahabodhi Temple inside the Bodhgaya religious site in India. Above it sits the world's tallest bronze sitting Buddha statue. In front of the statue is the Way to Buddhahood path flanked by Eight Pagodas on either side, making it perhaps the most mangnificent Buddha landmark in southern Taiwain. The center opened in 2011 and was designed to promote cultural and religious education. The Cultural Museum is Taiwan's only museum specializing in Buddhist artifacts. The Buddha Memorial Center has in its possesion a relic which is said to be Buddha's tooth-- only one of three in the entire world-- as well as many Buddhist artifacts donated by various countries. The art gallery displays an array of historical and culturual treasures, including poetry, calligraphy, religious instruments and antiques. It is one of the biggest Buddhist art treasuries in the world.
Return to your transport for the scenic trip back to the pier with a deeper understanding and appreciation of Buddhism.
Please Note:
Tour operates subject to meeting a minimum number of participants. The Buddha Memorial Center requires observing certain rules:- No smoking, no alcohol, no non-vegetarian foods or betel nuts are allowed. Please keep voices low. Please wear suitable, modest attire, no slippers.