Bore Valley, originally a quarry from the Ming Dynasty, was established in February 2001. The layout of the scenic spot is exquisitely designed, with profound implications, making it a paragon among contemporary attractions, earning it the accolades of ‘Dunhuang of the South’ and ‘Underground Buddhist Kingdom’. Bore, a transliteration from Sanskrit, signifies great wisdom and insight, and the name ‘Bore Valley’ was inscribed by He Jingzhi.
A 9-meter-tall white marble stupa is inscribed with the Heart Sutra of the Perfection of Wisdom. Directly in front of it, a waterfall plummets from the sky, with a drop of about 50 meters, divided into seven levels, which corresponds to the Buddhist phrase ‘seven-tiered pagoda’. Inside the scenic area, there is a statue depicting the birth of Buddha Shakyamuni. Standing on a lotus, with one hand pointing to the sky and the other to the earth, it symbolizes ‘I am the most honored between heaven and earth’. The statue of Shakyamuni’s birth represents the origin of Buddhism. On the right is a linear carving depicting Shakyamuni’s enlightenment under the Bodhi tree, symbolizing the development of Buddhism in India.
Ascending the steps, the steep cliffs symbolize the arduous journey of Buddhist culture’s spread to China. After passing the second waterfall and descending the steps, a 12-meter wide and 25-meter high stone wall relief is directly ahead, depicting a scene from the Southern Dynasties period when a large number of eminent monks and scholars gathered in Shanzhong (now Xinchang) to study Buddhist Prajna studies, as well as anecdotes such as Tan Guang’s pioneering, Zhi Zhu’s legacy, the establishment of the Bore sect, the holy traces of three lives, and the passing of the wise.It also includes references to Wang Xizhi, Sun Chuo, and other distinguished visitors to Xinchang mentioned by Bai Juyi in ‘The Record of Woyousan Zen Temple’. This is a giant historical scroll of the sinicization of Buddhism, indicating its establishment in China and reflecting Xinchang’s position in the history of Buddhist studies.
The waterfalls cascade down, creating a tremendous roar, symbolizing the integration of Buddhist studies with China’s traditional culture, eventually becoming a profound part of Chinese culture. In the middle of the tunnel, there is a stone chamber called ‘Glorious World’, with two statues of Vairocana Buddha in the center and mirrors on all sides, resplendent in gold and jade. ‘Glorious World’ signifies the flourishing of Buddhism in China. Upon exiting the tunnel, one is greeted by a 20-meter-tall statue of Avalokitesvara with a turtle, as well as Manjushri Bodhisattva. It is said that in the future, statues of Samantabhadra and Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva will also be sculpted in the surrounding area. The Four Great Bodhisattvas symbolize the widespread adoption of Buddhism in China. The entire area is open from May 1st to September 30th from 06:00 to 17:30; from October 1st to April 30th from 06:00 to 17:00.
