One of the main attractions of Jinan is a mountain with a height of 258 meters. What is attractive about this place? This is not the most famous hill in the country and this is not a monastery that pilgrims and students seek to visit. This is probably the largest open-air museum of Buddha sculptures, which was created over several millennia. This is how the world-famous Thousand Buddha Mountain appeared.

It all started in 581 when during the Sui dynasty carved silhouettes of the Buddha in various poses began to appear on the slopes of this mountain. At first, it was just a demonstration of the skill of local talents and a tribute to the great teacher. Then they decided to built the temple not far from the mountain. It was named «the Thousand Buddhas» and became very famous in a short time. Gradually the whole mountain became not only an important religious place but also a real cultural heritage of the city. For the sake of its preservation, a national park was created in 1959. It protects both the mountain itself and the nature around it.

Locals are attracted to the Thousand Buddha Mountain, first of all, by the ancient temple complex. Its most famous pavilion is the laughing Buddha pavilion. The people of Jinan come there to meditate and understand the life.

However, tourists go to the mountain to admire the beautiful Buddha statues. There are more than 130 of them: statues of different sizes, carved into the mountain or standing next to it. They really resemble an open-air museum. It is difficult to imagine that this is not a specially mounted exhibition, but a special exposition created by people for centuries inscribed in the natural landscape.

No less exciting is a walk through the nearest caves which also abound with images of the Buddha in the most unexpected places.

Besides, there is an incredibly ancient inscription on the territory of the mountain: four printed symbols carved into the rock. Scientists still can not determine exactly what these symbols mean and when they were made. Some suggest that they appeared there together with the first statues of Buddha in the 6th century, while others claim that it is the work of masters from the time of BC. However, both agree that this is the oldest historical monument on the territory of Jinan.