Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Park @ Sanya 南山佛教文化苑

Stunningly beautiful

After spending time and money to see the sea, sand and rocks in Sanya, I was not going to waste more resources on Nanshan Big and Small Caves (next destination 大小洞天).

We were all tired after walking so much and the scorching sun was draining our energy, so I made the decision to drive straight to our hotel inside Sanya Nanshan Buddhist Cultural Park (南山佛教文化苑).

We had a slight problem checking in our hotel as Agoda had not sent payment for our rooms and the hotel demanded a 2000 RMB cash deposit. We had paid in full for the rooms a week before our trip so we refused to comply. The hotel finally agreed on 500 RMB cash deposit.

Our hotel is located at the middle of a mountain. From our rooms to the reception desk, restaurant, train stop etc, we have to call for a 6-seater buggy to bring us round. We didn't have to pay for the rides.

The buggy driver doesn't carry our luggage so we had to do it ourselves. Our rooms were huge and face the sea. Lying on the bed, we could see the 108 m high Guanyin statue in the distant. It is larger than the Statue of Liberty.

5.20 pm! We were famished and quickly went out for a meal after depositing our luggage. We went to the hotel restaurant but it was closed. A hotel staff directed us to the park's vegetarian restaurant.

The hotel buggy does not travel in the park so we had to walk to the restaurant which is a 20-minute walk from the hotel. Fortunately, the weather was cool and breezy.

The vegetarian restaurant was empty, it was closing for the day but the staff kindly took our orders and served the dishes pretty fast. Vegetarian dishes and they were so delicious!!  

We went back the next day for lunch and the dishes were just as delicious. Food and drinks are a bit pricey here.

It was still early after our early dinner, so we took a walk in the deserted park. We came to a Guanyin temple and posed for some photos with the eighteen lohans, :D

We came across another small temple .... there were quite a few big and small temples within the gigantic park,

There were some designated spots where worshippers hang red charms for good luck.

We saw a huge Nepalese temple in the distance. By now, the park was all quiet and deserted. There were only three of us. It was a fantastic opportunity to snap more pictures - minus the annoying crowds!!

Lots of greenery around us, it's so peaceful.... I love being so close to nature.

The Nepalese temple doors were closed so we could only take pictures of the building.

We returned the next day for prayers only as photography is not allowed inside the building. -_-

I had wanted to continue taking pictures of the Guanyin statue but my brother-in-law was exhausted as he had been walking all day. so we called it a day.

On the way back, the guys stopped by reception to register for early morning Buddhist studies which starts at 5.30 am.

Darkness was creeping in slowly as we walked back to our hotel rooms.