Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone

Updated April 5, 2026

Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone is a highly acclaimed tourist attraction located in Nanjing, China. With a rating of 4.6 out of 5, it stands out as one of the top-rated tourist attractions in the area.

Location

You can find Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone at China, Jiangsu, Nanjing, 江宁区宁丹大道18号 邮政编码: 211199.

Visiting Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone

Located in Nanjing, China, Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone is a tourist attraction that visitors to the area may find worth exploring.

Planning Your Visit

The tourist attraction is located at China, Jiangsu, Nanjing, 江宁区宁丹大道18号 邮政编码: 211199. GPS coordinates: 31.913991, 118.746648. Check locally for current opening hours and any admission fees before visiting.

Location

Places to Stay Near Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone

Find and Book a Tour

Explore More Travel Guides

Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone sits quietly in the southern hills of Nanjing, where ancient Buddhist traditions rub shoulders with some seriously bold modern architecture. This sacred spot holds one of the world’s most precious Buddhist relics: a parietal bone fragment of Buddha himself, enshrined deep within the jaw-dropping underground Usnisa Palace.

The park covers roughly five square kilometers. Pilgrims have been coming here since the Tang Dynasty, but what you’ll see now is mostly a fresh, ambitious rebuild from the 2010s.

Your visit here isn’t just about religion. The twin peaks that give the mountain its “bull horns” name rise over temples, pagodas, and cultural parks. Some spots are dedicated to Zheng He’s legendary voyages, others to ancient poetry, and everywhere you look, the Niutou Chan Buddhism tradition pulses beneath the surface.

This place is a cornerstone of Chinese Buddhist history, but honestly, most travelers blow right past it as they chase Nanjing’s bigger-name sites.

Key Takeaways

• Niushoushan is home to a rare skull relic of Buddha, kept in a mind-blowing underground palace.
• The site is a mashup of ancient Buddhist heritage and striking modern architecture.
• Give yourself several hours—you’ll want time for temples, pagodas, and just wandering the scenic paths.

About Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone

You’ll find this sprawling cultural park in Nanjing’s Jiangning District. It’s gone from a forgotten Buddhist hillside to one of China’s most buzzed-about religious destinations, mixing ancient spiritual heritage with some pretty wild architectural flourishes.

History and Significance

Niushoushan’s roots run deep—it’s been a sacred Buddhist site since the Tang Dynasty (618–907 AD). This is the birthplace of Niutou Zen Buddhism.

The mountain’s name? It comes from those two peaks, facing each other like ox horns. Hard to miss once you’re there.

The original temples got wiped out during the Taiping Rebellion in the 1850s. For a long time, the mountain was left to the elements.

Everything changed on October 27, 2015. That’s when the world’s only surviving parietal relic of Shakyamuni Buddha was officially enshrined here. The relic—a skull bone, 35 cm around with visible hair follicles—was first discovered in the underground palace of Bao’en Temple over in Nanjing’s Qinhuai District.

With the relic’s arrival, the area exploded with development. What you see now is mostly new, but the Tang-era Hongjue Temple Pagoda still stands as a rare link to the ancient past.

What Makes It Special

Usnisa Palace is the headline act here. It’s a colossal underground structure built to house the Buddha’s parietal relic. We’re talking 136,000 square meters, nine floors—three above ground, six below. The exterior is meant to look like Buddha’s kasaya robe draped over a dome.

Inside, you’ll find the Thousand Buddhas Hall with a 21.8-meter-high Ashoka Pagoda replica. The Relic Palace is where the actual skull bone sits, sealed inside a lotus stupa and kept under tight climate control.

The Lotus Buddha Theatre is something else. Multimedia performances play out as a 7.5-meter copper Buddha statue descends from the ceiling, lotus petals (16 meters tall!) unfurling from the floor. It’s theatrical, a little surreal, and totally memorable.

One detail most people miss: the marble mosaics around the relic pagoda aren’t man-made. Artisans picked stones whose natural veins just happened to form entire scenes from Buddha’s life. You’d swear it was magic.

What to See and Do

Niushoushan Cultural Tourism Zone sprawls across about 5 square kilometers in Nanjing’s Jiangning District. There’s a lot more here than just the main religious sites.

The park is a blend of Buddhist heritage and ultra-modern design, with plenty to keep both pilgrims and casual visitors busy.

Main Attractions and Highlights

Usnisa Palace (Foding Palace) is the big draw. It holds the world’s only surviving Buddha’s parietal relic—the actual skull of Shakyamuni. The building itself feels like a deep pit, stretching 220 meters long and rising 89.3 meters high. Nine floors in total, with most of the action underground.

You’ll enter beneath a massive dome shaped like Buddha’s cassock, with a smaller dome that looks like a hair bun. The base is ringed by 56 flying Bodhi gates and 56 cloud gate pillars. Inside, the Thousand Buddhas Hall features a 21.8-meter Ashoka Pagoda replica, echoing the relic’s original discovery site.

Venture down, and each underground floor has a different theme. The third floor highlights Chinese Buddhism with scripture corridors. The fourth dives into Indian Buddhist teachings. On the fifth, you’ll find relic culture and historical artifacts—lots to take in.

Don’t leave without catching the Lotus Buddha Theatre in the Zen Grand View. The multimedia show stars a 7.5-meter copper Sleeping Buddha that floats down from the ceiling, while giant lotus petals rise from the stage. It’s a little over-the-top, but I loved it.

Outside, Foding Pagoda gives you sweeping views over the park and Nanjing’s skyline. Hongjue Temple Pagoda, originally built in 774 during the Tang Dynasty and rebuilt in the Ming, is one of the few spots where you can actually touch real ancient architecture around here.

Best Time to Visit

March through June and September through November are your best bets for weather. Late October and early November are especially nice—crisp air, fewer crowds.

Avoid Chinese national holidays if you can. Weekdays are much calmer. Give yourself at least 1.5 hours for Usnisa Palace alone, and three to four hours if you want to see Foding Pagoda and the Niutou Zen Buddhism Cultural Park.

If you’re an early riser, mornings are the sweet spot for beating the crowds. The “Song of the Lotus Buddha” performance schedule can be a moving target, so check on showtimes when you arrive.

Visitor Information

Getting to Niushoushan takes a little planning. It’s tucked away in Jiangning District, about 20 kilometers south of central Nanjing. Knowing your options ahead of time makes the whole experience smoother.

Location and How to Get There

You’ll find the scenic area at No. 18 Ningdan Avenue, Jiangning District. Easiest way is to hop on Metro Line 1 to Tianlongsi Station, then grab a taxi or Didi for the last 15–20 minutes to the West Gate. That ride usually costs 15–20 RMB.

If you’re watching your budget, public buses are just 2 RMB. Bus 712 goes straight to the NiuShou Shan Feng Jing Qu stop from downtown. Or, take Metro Line S1 to Heyunli Station and transfer to bus 754. Buses take longer, but if you’re not in a rush, why not?

On weekends and holidays, there are sometimes tourist shuttles from major transport hubs. Ask your hotel concierge for the latest info—these routes change with the seasons.

Tips for Visitors

The park opens its gates at 9:00 AM and winds down at 5:00 PM, with last entry at 4:30 PM. Honestly, if you can swing it, get there right at opening—trust me, you’ll want those quieter moments inside Foding Palace before the crowds show up.

Give yourself at least half a day. Five or six hours is even better if you want to really soak it all in without feeling rushed.

The place is bigger than you might expect. Most folks are caught off guard by just how much ground there is to cover.

Spring (April-May) and autumn (September-November) are prime time—think mild breezes, not too muggy, and fewer tour groups clogging the walkways. On the flip side, Chinese national holidays? It’s a swarm. Not my favorite time to visit, unless you love lines.

Shuttle buses run inside the park, which helps with those long stretches between the main sights. Still, be ready to walk—a lot.

If you’re eyeing that 88-meter Usnisa Pagoda, brace yourself for a serious stair workout. It’s gorgeous up there, but not exactly friendly for anyone with mobility issues.

Strollers are fine outside, but honestly, they turn into a hassle once you head into the palace’s tighter exhibition halls.