Although considered a famous Xian tourist site, Famen Temple is remotely located 120 km northwest of Xian in Famen Town. Established during the Eastern Han Dynasty, the temple is renowned as the home of Sakyamuni Buddha relics. The legendary temple was built by King Asoka of India in 147 AD in hopes of spreading Buddhism in the area. Visitors are impressed with its 13-story pagoda and its museum.
In recent times, this legendary temple became famous because of its unearthed royal treasure. In 1981, the wooden stupa (dome) fell because of excessive rain. In 1985, the provincial government decided to rebuild this Buddhist institution. While cleaning its foundation, an underground Buddhist palace was discovered housing Sakyamuni's fossilized finger bone, 2,000 pieces of jewelry, inscribed stone tablets, woven gold brocade from the Tang Dynasty, and many more treasures. All these archeological findings can be viewed in the Famen Temple Museum located in the grounds.
Getting there: Take the tourism bus to Fufeng from Pan's Village bus station out of Xi'an Yuxiangmen Gate; Bus Fare-RMB 12
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