Traveling Around the World - Revisiting Banna, Part 5 - Mengle Grand Buddha Temple

Number of days：6 days
Time: February
Average cost: 4800 yuan
With whom：a person
Updated: 2024.03.06

From late February to early March 2024, during a trip to Xishuangbanna, Yunnan, I visited the Mengle Grand Buddhist Temple. This photo shows the entrance to the temple.

Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture in Yunnan Province is a minority autonomous prefecture, home to a diverse range of ethnic groups, including the Dai, Hani, Jinuo, Bulang, Lahu, Jingpo, Yi, Yao, Wa, Hui, and Miao. Buddhist temples are found throughout Dai villages, with virtually every village boasting a temple. This photo was taken at the Mengle Grand Buddhist Temple. According to statistics, there are 577 Buddhist temples and 215 pagodas in nearly 600 villages across the autonomous prefecture. Mengle Grand Buddhist Temple is the largest of all Buddhist temples, holding supreme status and considered a sacred site by the Dai people. (Photo taken at Mengle Grand Buddhist Temple)

The Mengle Grand Buddhist Temple is located in Jinghong City, Xishuangbanna Prefecture, about 5 kilometers from the city center. This photo was taken at the Mengle Grand Buddhist Temple.

Located on Nanlian Mountain, the Mengle Grand Buddha Temple cleverly utilizes the natural topography to create a hillside-shaped structure. Its architectural form is unique in Taiwan, shaped like a seated Buddha. This photo was taken at the Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.

All the buildings are dominated by yellow, with red accents. From a distance and up close, they appear resplendent and elegant. On sunny days, they shimmer with a golden glow, creating an extraordinary grandeur. Photo taken at Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.

The Mengle Grand Buddha Temple was restored and rebuilt on the original site of the Jingpiao Buddhist Temple, a royal temple from the ancient Dai Dynasty. Photo taken at the Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.

Atop the mountain stands a cluster of golden-domed temples, each one a different height. From here, you can overlook Jinghong's panoramic views, taking in the stunning tropical scenery. This photo was taken at Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.

Upon entering Mengle Grand Buddha Temple, you'll see a statue of the prince. Legend has it that the prince walked without support, with lotus flowers blooming with every step. This photo was taken at Mengle Grand Buddha Temple. Before entering the main hall, there are four flights of stairs. On either side of each flight stands a dragon with a different number of heads (photographing is prohibited). Seven heads represent the seven sufferings of life: birth, old age, sickness, death, reunion with those we hate, separation from loved ones, and failure to obtain what we desire; five heads represent blessings, prosperity, longevity, happiness, and wealth; three heads represent Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha; and one head represents the return to unity. (Photo taken at Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.)

Interior of the main hall

The solemn main hall

Statues beside the steps

Clean water, wash away evil. Similar to the modern practice of washing hands in a golden basin. Photo taken at Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.

Reaching the summit, a massive golden standing Buddha, the Jixiang Buddha, stands majestically. Photo taken at Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.

Forged entirely from brass, the Jixiang Buddha stands 45 meters tall, with a base 35 meters long and 9 meters high. It is the largest Buddha statue in Theravada Buddhism. The photo was taken at Mengle Grand Buddha Temple.