The Genkong Buddhist Kingdom Cultural Tourism Area is located in Kaihua County, Quzhou City, Zhejiang Province, and is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. Covering 3.03 square kilometers, it consists of three main sections: Root Carving Art Museum, Buddhist Culture Zone, and Leisure Resort Area. The site boasts the world's largest collection of root-carved Buddha statues (680 in total) and a 680-meter-long root carving art corridor. The centerpiece Genkong Buddhist Hall stands 48 meters tall, built with traditional mortise-and-tenon structure, housing the Guinness World Record-holding massive root carving "Five Hundred Arhats". This unique integration of root carving art, Buddhist culture, and landscape gardening attracts over 2 million visitors annually.
History and Culture
The history of Genkong Buddhist Kingdom dates back to the heyday of Buddhism during the Tang Dynasty, when locals developed the tradition of "worshipping Buddha with roots". The modern site was created over 30 years by master root carver Xu Guqing, whose "Five Hundred Arhats" series uses millennium-old tree roots as material, with each arhat displaying distinct expressions, showcasing exquisite carving skills. Most root carvings here use rare tree roots from endangered species, possessing extraordinary artistic and cultural preservation value.
The Buddhist Culture Zone follows the design concept of "Pure Land on Earth", blending Han and Tibetan Buddhist architectural styles. The 38-meter-tall Sakyamuni Buddha statue in the Mahavira Hall is carved from golden nanmu wood from Myanmar, with a mandorla composed of 9,999 small Buddha statues, symbolizing "All Buddhas Paying Homage".
Main Attractions
Five Hundred Arhats Hall
The centerpiece exhibition hall displays the Guinness World Record-holding "Five Hundred Arhats" root carving collection. Stretching 680 meters with the tallest single arhat reaching 6 meters, these works are carved from precious thousand-year-old camphor and nanmu roots. The vivid expressions and flowing robes represent the pinnacle of global root carving art.
Genkong Buddhist Hall
The 48-meter-tall Genkong Buddhist Hall covers 12,000 square meters, built with traditional wooden structure. It houses the world's largest indoor root-carved Buddha - a 38-meter seated Sakyamuni statue. The walls are inlaid with over 10,000 small root carvings, forming a spectacular "Wall of Ten Thousand Buddhas".
Zuigen Art Museum
Zuigen Art Museum exhibits more than 2,000 root carving artworks from the Tang Dynasty to modern times, systematically presenting the development history of Chinese root carving art. The prized collection is the Ming Dynasty root carving "Bodhidharma Crossing the River", carved from a whole millennium-old red sandalwood root, depicting the legendary story of Bodhidharma crossing the Yangtze on a reed.
Zen Tea Garden
The 20,000-square-meter Zen Tea Garden perfectly combines tea ceremony, Zen meditation and landscape gardening. With over 300 century-old tea trees and a tea experience center, visitors can participate in the complete process of tea picking, making and tasting, experiencing the realm of "Zen in Tea".
Local Cuisine
Kaihua Clear Water Fish
Kaihua Clear Water Fish uses grass carp raised in the pristine waters of Qiantang River's source. The tender, non-fishy meat is best prepared steamed, braised or in fish head tofu soup. The most authentic version is served at Zuigen Restaurant within the scenic area.
Kaihua Steamed Rice Cake
A local traditional snack made from fermented rice batter, Kaihua Steamed Rice Cake has a soft, sweet texture. Several time-honored shops in the old streets near the scenic area offer recommended versions with preserved vegetable or fresh pork fillings.
Qianjiangyuan Wild Mushrooms
The forests around Qiantang River's source produce various wild mushrooms like shiitake, bamboo fungus and porcini. The scenic area restaurants' wild mushroom hotpot and casserole best preserve these delicacies' original flavors.
Ticket Information
Admission is 120 yuan (March-November peak season) or 100 yuan (December-February off-season). Open 8:00-17:30 (extended to 18:00 in peak season). Free for seniors over 60, children under 1.2m and disabled visitors; students get 50% discount with valid ID. Recommended visiting time 4-5 hours.
Suggested Itinerary
Recommended route: North Gate Entrance → Zuigen Art Museum → Five Hundred Arhats Hall → Genkong Buddhist Hall → Zen Tea Garden → Buddhist Culture Zone → Leisure Shopping Street. The full tour takes about 4 hours. Electric cart service (20 yuan/person) connects major attractions.
Transportation
- High-speed rail: To Quzhou Station, then transfer to Kaihua tourist shuttle bus (~1.5h)
- Driving: Exit at Kaihua on Hangzhou-Xin'anjiang-Jingdezhen Expressway, then 5km along Genbo Road
- Bus: Kaihua County routes 1 or 3 to "Genkong Buddhist Kingdom" stop
- Air: Nearest airport is Quzhou Airport (~80km from site)
Must-See Attractions
- Five Hundred Arhats Hall: World's largest root-carved arhat collection
- Genkong Buddhist Hall: 38m indoor root-carved Buddha statue
- Zuigen Art Museum: History of Chinese root carving art
- Zen Tea Garden: Tea ceremony and Zen meditation experience
Travel Tips
- Arrive before 9am to avoid tour group crowds
- Rent audio guides (30 yuan each) for in-depth explanations
- Wear comfortable flats as some exhibits require prolonged standing
- Tea ceremony performances at Zen Tea Garden daily at 10:30 & 15:00
- Night light show is worth seeing (separate ticket required)
Precautions
- Do not touch root carvings - violators bear restoration costs
- Maintain quiet and respect religious etiquette in Buddhist zones
- No photography in designated areas (clearly marked)
- Mountain weather changes quickly - bring rain gear
- Smoking and drones prohibited throughout the site