Nanshan Temple

Nanshan Temple showing religious elements and a temple or place of worship
Nanshan Temple featuring a temple or place of worship and religious elements
Nanshan Temple which includes a garden
Nanshan Temple which includes signage and a park
Nanshan Temple featuring a square or plaza, religious aspects and a temple or place of worship


This magnificent monument to Buddha and the bodhisattvas is located in an expansive seaside temple complex of beautiful tropical gardens and rolling, green hills.

Nanshan Temple is a magnificent Buddhist temple complex in the Nanshan Buddhist Culture Tourism Zone of Sanya. Explore an expansive complex of beautiful temples, monuments and gardens, situated at the foot of the Nanshan (South Mountain). Nanshan Temple is a stunning destination and the perfect place to learn about Buddhism and the tropical ecology of the area.

Explore over 50 square kilometres (19.3 square miles) of Nanshan Temple by foot or by trolley car. Stroll through the temple’s vast Renwang Gate and see the two statues of Buddha guarding the entrance. Admire the wide complex of meticulously designed gardens, beautiful floral displays and magnificent statues, temples and monuments.

Discover the wide promenade that divides the temple complex into two parts. This main pathway leads almost directly from the main road to the immense Guan Yin Statue of the South Sea, a statue of the bodhisattva Guan Yi, which soars up 108 metres (354 feet) from the South China Sea.

Two halls, the Doushuai Adytum and the Daxiongbaodian, make up the main part of the Nanshan Temple. See seven Buddhist figures in the Doushuai Adytum shrines, including the Maitreya Buddha, two bodhisattvas and the Four Heavenly Kings. Explore the Jin Tang, the Hall of Ceremony, and admire the three key images of Buddha.

Don’t miss the Golden Jade Kwan-yin Statue, a sacred monument encrusted with diamonds and jewels. Explore the Sea Watch Terrace, a scenic terrace that overlooks the ocean and provides a stunning view of the side of the towering bodhisattva Guan Yi. After you’ve explored the complex, enjoy a traditional Chinese Buddhist meal at the vegetarian buffet restaurant, located on-site.

Nanshan Temple is located in the Nanshan Buddhist Culture Tourism Zone, approximately 40 kilometres (24.8 miles) southwest from downtown Sanya. Admission fees include access to the temple complex, but some monuments and the trolley car rides incur further fees. Reach the complex via taxi or the bus line that leads directly to the temple’s entrance.

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