Orlando’s largest Buddhist Temple, Guang Ming Temple, is part of the Fo Guang Shan order.
I visited the headquarters of that order today, about 40 minutes northeast of central Kaohsiung City.
There is something about Buddhist temples and monasteries that invoke a feeling of calmness in me when I visit. While there were lots of people here, the grounds were serene and sacred.
The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum 佛光山佛陀紀念館 is a Mahayana Buddhist cultural, religious, and educational museum affiliated with Fo Guang Shan, one of Taiwan’s largest Buddhist organizations. The museum is located next to the Fo Guang Shan Monastery, the headquarters of the order.
The Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum, inaugurated in 2011, stands as one of the most sought-after tourist destinations in Kaohsiung. In fact, it was honored with the prestigious Travelers’ Choice Award on TripAdvisor in 2024. However, it is important to plan ahead when visiting this renowned museum, as it is situated 36 kilometers (approximately 22.4 miles) from Formosa Boulevard Station in downtown Kaohsiung. A trip to the museum typically requires a minimum of 4 hours, factoring in the round-trip travel time of approximately 2 hours and an additional 2 hours to explore the museum itself. For those interested in also visiting the Fo Guang Shan Monastery, which is not a mandatory stop, it is advisable to allocate an extra 1 to 1.5 hours to your visit.
Key Highlights:
The visitor pamphlet highlights ten top treasures to see at the museum. The staff at the information desk mentioned that people travel from all over the world to see three key highlights, all located in the Main Hall on the first level:
– The Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue at the Mount Potalaka Avalokitesvara Shrine.
– The reclining Buddha at the Jade Buddha Shrine, which houses one of the three remaining Buddhas tooth-sariras in the world.
– The tallest seated golden Buddha statue in Southeast Asia at the Golden Buddha Shrine, where visitors can seek aphorisms and words of advice from the Dharma Word Boxes.
Other Points of Interest:
– The 36-story tall giant Buddha, currently the largest copper-cast Buddha statue in Asia, located on the third level of the Main Hall.
– Eight different pagodas, including the Six Perfection Pagoda featuring Venerable Master Hsing Yun’s One-Stroke Calligraphy. Visitors can also watch a 3D introductory video between 9:30 AM and 4:30 PM.
– Four different stupas located on the third level of the Main Hall.
These attractions offer a unique and enriching experience for visitors to the museum.
Thank you, Judy Nguyen, for the recommendation. What a special and spectacular place!
Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum 佛光山佛陀紀念館
Dashu District
1 Tongling Road
Kaohsiung City, Taiwan
