China/Hainan: Guanyin of Nanshan Statue
This is an iconic site at the bottom of the Hainan Island, about 30km from the city of Sanya. The 108m/354ft tall statue is the 12th tallest statue in the world and depicts the Guanyin, the Buddhist deity associated with compassion. The statue has three faces – one facing the island and the other two toward the South China Sea. It’s a major major major attraction on Hainan and loads of tourists buses swarm this daily (there are two windows cashier windows for individual tourists and 12 for groups!). It’s a long walk from the parking lot to the actual statue which stand on a platform out in the open sea. On the way you have to pass myriads of shops, gates, and other obstacles – everything is pre-planned and overstructured with no shortcuts. Once on the islet with the statue, it’s another 6 floors to climb through the halls full of shiny Buddhas to get to the observation platform at the statue’s feet. Here the crowds of Chinese walk around the statue in a circle, stopping to kiss the massive feet. When you are done praying and observing, it’s a long shlop back through more stores and trinket shopping and various kitschy gardens full of weird sculptures. You are likely to be the only foreigner here.
