The Dafo Temple or Great Buddha Temple is an ancient Buddhist temple in Zhangye. It becomes well-known for its gigantic reclining Buddha statue. It has had several names over the centuries, including the “Kasyapa Buddha Temple” , the “Bojue Temple” , the “Hongren Temple” , and the “Reclining Buddha Temple” . The present name of “Dafo” means “Great Buddha”.
The temple’s huge statue is made of clay on a wooden frame and depicts the Gautama Buddha’s attainment of nirvana, with his ten disciples standing behind him. It is largely unaltered since the time of the Western Xia (1038–1227). With a length of some 35 metres which is thought to be the largest reclining clay Buddha statue in China
The hall that contains the Buddha is 48 metres long and 24 metres wide, with a height of 33 metres is one of the few wooden structures of its period which survives. It also has a Qing dynasty (1644–1911) mural which tells the story of Xuanzang and his followers,