Fokuangshan (Light of Buddha Mountain)

At the northeast of Dashu Township in Kaohsiung County, on the left bank of the Kaoping River, is the famous Light of Buddha Mountain (Fokuangshan). It is the Buddhist center of south Taiwan, established by Master Hsing Yun and his disciples.

The architecture of the temples here are very full of traditional characters. At the southeastern side of the mountain is the most prominent landmark of the area -- a huge golden statue of Buddha Amitaabha, which measures some 120 meters. The main square is surrounded by 480 standing statues of Buddha, while water and mountains around form the magnificent scenery.

The main structures of the mountain consist of four temples, namely the Tahsiungpao, the Tapei, the Tachi and the Dashu shrines. The Tahsiungpao shrine covers a large area and is the most imposing of all four shrines.

The main god of worship here is Sakyamuni, while statues of Amitaabha is placed on the left and right sides. More than 10,000 Kuanyin statues surround the temple. Buddha statues and lanterns of light rest in the 14,800 holes in the walls of the four shrines. In total, there are more than a thousand Buddha statues, large and small, at the mountain.