China: Shuanglin Temple

Shuanglin Temple is a UNESCO World Heritage site located southwest of Pingyao ancient city. It is often called the ” Treasure House of Painted Sculptures,” for it houses one of the most significant collections of ancient Buddhist clay art in China. Founded in 571 AD during the Northern Qi Dynasty, the temple’s surviving wooden structures largely date to the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and the collection has more than 2,000 decorated clay statues produced between the 12-19th centuries. Unlike many temples in China that have undergone modern repainting, many of the statues here retain their original mineral-based colors, giving them a dusty but incredibly authentic and haunting appearance. The temple is famous for the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, known for its delicate craftsmanship The complex is designed like a fortress, surrounded by high rammed-earth walls. While to some it may look dusty and abandoned, it really is impressive and a totally mind boggling, making to the Terracotta Army