The Reclining Buddha Mountains, known as the Western Hills, form the basis of the Western Hills Forest Park. Because the mountains look like a Buddha who was lying and resting himself from far away, they were named the Reclining Buddha Mountains. People also refer to them as the Western Hills since they are located in the west suburban area of Kunming. The mountains are all thickly dotted by various kinds of flowers and trees, constituting the breathtaking landscape there. The Reclining Buddha Mountains are so famous for their extraordinary natural beauty that people regarded them as “the most beautiful place in Yunnan Province” from ancient ages.
The Reclining Buddha Mountains stretch for 40 kilometers along the western edge of Kunming. The sea level elevation of them range from 1,900 meters to 2,350 meters. Looking out the mountains from Kunming, the Reclining Buddha Mountains appear to be a beauty lying beside the Dianchi Lake. The head, the bosom, the legs, the belly, and even the hairs of the lady are very easy to identify. Local legend has it that the mountain was the incarnation of an ancient princess. She disobeyed her father’s will and married to a young man with no title secretly. Her father was furious when he found out. He managed to kill the young man cruelly. The princess was so desperate and heartbroken that she cried for a long time and died. Her tears gathered into the depression beside her and formed the Dianchi Lake, while she herself turned into mountains, which is the Reclining Buddha Mountains today.
The Reclining Buddha Mountains have been developed into a forest park now. Famous attractions like the Longmen Grottoes and the Xiaoshilin Stone Forest dot amongst the mountains. You can visit them during your trip to the mountains since they are all relatively small in size. And if you visit the mountains on March the 3rd, you will catch the opportunity to experience a traditional party, where you can enjoy traditional Chinese music and dances.
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