Zhangye China, Silk Road

Located in the centre of the Hexi Corridor, Zhangye is a city surrounded by the Qilian Mountains to the south, Longshou Mountain to the north, and the Hei River to the west. The terrain is flat, fertile, and lush with forests. It is a land of contrasts where snow-capped mountains, grasslands, and deserts coexist. In the foothills of the Qilian Mountains is the Zhangye National Geopark. Inscribed as a UNESCO site, the park is famous for its strikingly colourful rock formations. The rocks, with their smooth shapes, resemble a layered cake that has been tilted—a result of tectonic shifts. Over time, wind and rain sculpted these formations into towers, pillars, and ravines, each with its own unique colour and pattern. 

Zhangye once served as the capital of the Northern Liang Kingdom (4th to 5th  centuries), led by the Juqu clan, whose ancestors had served under the Xiongnu tribe. The military commander Juqu Mengxun seized power through political manoeuvres, including tricking Duan Ye, the governor of the region, into killing his rival, Juqu Nancheng, the crown prince. After the assassination, Duan Ye was executed in retaliation. Mengxun declared himself Duke of Zhangye, solidifying his rule over the kingdom.

Juqu Mengxun promoted Buddhism during his time in power, even though the religion had been gradually spreading to China via the Silk Road since the 1st century. Initially, it was influenced by Taoism, but over time, Indian Buddhist texts were translated into Chinese, creating a valuable collection that spread throughout East Asia. Buddhism flourished during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), and its influence shaped art, literature, and culture during this golden period.

Despite some anti-Buddhist persecutions, Buddhism remained significant, and today, it is the largest established religion in China and practiced by more than 30% of its population. In the centre of Zhanghye, The Dafo Temple, built around the 11th century, stands as a testament to this enduring influence. The most famous feature of the temple is the Giant Buddha, one of China's largest reclining Buddha statues. Made of wood and painted in gold leaf, the statue measures 115ft (35m) long and 25ft (7.5m) wide. 

In the 15th century, during the Ming Dynasty, Emperor Ying Zhong gifted more than 6,000 scriptures to the monastery. Some were copied onto Prussian blue paper using ink made from gold and silver powder, adding a layer of luxury and making them not only incredibly valuable as artifacts but also highlighting the importance of Buddhist practices and teachings in China.