A photo taken on Nov 19, 2014 shows the statue of Amitabha ("Infinite Light") in Donglin Temple of Xingzi county in East China's Jiangxi province.[Photo by Jiang Wanjuan/chinadaily.com.cn]
The 48-meter-tall Buddha statue in Donglin Temple is believed to be the tallest of its kind in the world. It cost 1 billion yuan ($162 million) to build and used 48 kilograms of gold for gilding. Construction ended in 2013, and the funds for the statue came from disciples and philanthropists from around the world.
Located on the northwestern slope of Mount Lushan, Donglin temple was first built by Huiyuan, a noted monk of the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420). It is also the birthplace of the Jingtu (Pure Earth) Sect of Buddhism.
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