OBS Chapter 305: Nanhai Daguanyin
Chapter 305: Nanhai Daguanyin
"Should we go to Nanshan Cultural Park first? How can we come to Qiongzhou Island and not see the Nanhai Guanyin? Tangtang, this is your first time to Qiongzhou Island. You haven't been to Nanshan Temple yet, right? Do you want to go and pray and burn incense?" In the back seat of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, Mrs. Ning asked Song Tang, who was sitting in the front passenger seat.
Just now when they were in the car, they discussed where to go for fun, and Mrs. Ning had chosen a place suitable for all ages.
For Chinese people, any place where they can burn incense and pray for blessings is not to be missed, and they will pay their respects there regardless of whether they believe in it or not.
Hearing this, Song Tang turned around excitedly and asked curiously, "Is that the Guanyin statue that's so high above the sea? I saw it from the plane when I came here."
"Yes, it's there. The Guanyin statue is 108 meters high, taller than the Statue of Liberty in the United States." Mrs. Qin continued Song Tang's words.
She didn't know that Song Tang came on his own private plane. She thought Song Tang was on an airline plane. These planes would circle around the Guanyin statue when passing by, which meant praying for a smooth flight.
This Nanhai Guanyin is the landmark here. The first thing that every tourist on a plane landing at Phoenix Airport sees is this magnificent Guanyin statue.
"Then let's go there." Song Tang made the decision immediately. The two ladies' suggestions were exactly what she wanted.
"Sister Qiongying, let's go directly to the Nanshan Cultural Park that the two aunts mentioned. Let's go there to burn incense and pray for blessings." After telling Qiongying the destination, Song Tang's eyes were full of anticipation.
Since her adventure, she has held these things in awe. She can also pray for her mother in heaven, hoping that she can live a happy life there.
……
We soon arrived at the Nanshan Cultural Park scenic area. From the car, we could see the huge Guanyin statue on the sea. It is said that this Nanhai Guanyin statue can withstand a magnitude 16 earthquake and a force typhoon.
When the convoy arrived at the entrance of the scenic spot, private cars were not allowed to enter. Song Tang and his friends did not make any special arrangements. After getting off the car at the entrance, they asked the drivers to park in the parking lot.
Although any one of the three women in the car could use their connections to get the car in, there's really no need to do that. We're not out to show off or seek excitement.
The current time period is considered the peak season for the Nanshan Cultural Park Scenic Area. The ticket price of 128 yuan per ticket is not too expensive. By the time assistants such as Zhao Qi and Zhao Rui bought the tickets, the driver and bodyguards had just parked the car and returned.
"Tangtang, do you have any flat shoes and sun-protective clothing in your car? If so, change into them. When we get to the temple, there will be many places where it will be inconvenient to enter with bare arms in slippers." Aunt Ning said, looking at Song Tang's custom-made short-sleeved top and the Hermès sandals on his feet.
"Should there be?" Song Tang said uncertainly, then looked at Zhao Qi and Zhao Rui beside him.
"Yes, miss. Please wait a moment while I go find it." Zhao Qi replied to Song Tang and trotted to the parking lot with Qiongying. After a while, she returned with a small bag.
"Miss, we have shoes and sun protection clothes. Would you like to change now?"
"Change it now, so you don't have to change it later. Besides, the sun is quite strong, so wearing sun-protective clothing is killing two birds with one stone." Song Tang said with a smile.
After Song Tang changed his shoes, everyone started their journey to pray at Nanshan Temple.
……
Nanshan Cultural Park is not a small scenic area, so there are sightseeing buses available for you to take in the area. The price is not too expensive, and you can easily tour the entire area.
The first stop after entering the temple is the Abhidharmakosha, which has a solemn and majestic overall style. Abhidharmakosha is the highest level of Buddhism's 84,000 Dharmas, meaning that all beings are equal.
After passing the Buerfamen, we arrived at the sightseeing bus boarding point.
Although Song Tang and his friends didn't make any special arrangements to drive their private cars in, they could still operate them here without being too conspicuous.
Riding a sightseeing bus was still not that free and convenient for people like them. So after using some connections, the bodyguards drove out two sightseeing electric vehicles with the smiling face of the scenic area's sightseeing bus manager.
When Song Tang and her friends were visiting the Nanshan Cultural Park, they were free to use these two sightseeing buses throughout the trip. They only had to return them when they left the scenic area.
The first stop is of course the most famous Nanhai Guanyin Statue, because when they borrowed the sightseeing bus just now, the person in charge told them to try to go to the Guanyin statue as early as possible, otherwise they would not be able to go up because the time is limited.
Two battery-powered sightseeing vehicles carried everyone all the way to the Guanyin statue. Many tourists on the road looked at them curiously because they saw that the drivers were not wearing the scenic area's work clothes.
After arriving at the seaside, passing six tall and magnificent Six Purity Pillars and crossing a long bridge, we finally arrived at the feet of the Great Guanyin of the South China Sea.
That’s right, the Nanhai Guanyin Statue is built on the sea, some distance from the coast, and is connected to it by a not-too-wide bridge. This bridge is the Puji Bridge.
After getting off the car, Song Tang stood under the Guanyin statue with his eyes wide open in shock. His already big round eyes looked even bigger now.
You really have to experience it yourself to know how shocking it is. Whether you watch it from a plane or from a distance on land, people can only sigh in admiration at most.
It is not until you stand at the feet of the Guanyin statue in person that you realize that its majesty and sacredness are truly beyond words.
The majestic Great Guanyin statue is a trio of statues, each resting on a 108-petal lotus throne. Three faces of the Bodhisattva, each with different expressions, hold different instruments and overlook the world.
"How about it? It feels different standing here and seeing it in person, right?" Just as Song Tang was still standing there looking up in surprise, Mrs. Qin beside her patted her shoulder and said with a smile.
The little girl was stunned with shock when she got off the car, which made the two ladies laugh and reminded them of the first time they stood here. They looked exactly like Song Tang at this moment.
The shocking impact of the Nanhai Guanyin will not diminish depending on how much money you have or how noble your status is. All beings are equal in this respect, and there will be no less shock.
"Yeah, it's really different..." Song Tang still murmured with his head tilted back.
She felt Aunt Qin patting her and talking to her, but she didn't care at all. The spectacle before her made her almost feel like crying.
"Let's go, let's go to the front to worship the Buddha first, and then go up and take a look. We can't see anything here. Going up and touching it in person will give you a different feeling, that is a touch from the heart." Mrs. Ning stepped forward and gently held Song Tang's hand.
At the feet of the Nanhai Guanyin stands a huge lotus-shaped building, the Yuantong Hall, which is seven stories high, with the Guanyin statue towering above it.
Leaving two bodyguards to watch over the sightseeing bus, the group headed towards the Buddhist temple Madam Ning had mentioned. Someone had to watch over the sightseeing bus; they had borrowed it for their own use, and if no one was watching, other unsuspecting tourists would surely get on.
In front of the main hall, three sticks of incense are provided free of charge. After everyone lined up to burn incense, they stepped into the magnificent Yuantong Hall.