The largest three-dimensional Maitreya Buddha stone statue in the country

The Ruoyan Mountain Scenic Area in Fuqing features a gigantic three-dimensional granite Maitreya Buddha statue, located 1 kilometer north of Haikou Town in Fuqing City. The main attractions include the Maitreya Buddha, Ruoyan Temple, and cliff inscriptions, among others. The Maitreya Buddha stone statue was constructed in 1341 and completed in 1369. It stands 9 meters tall, 8.9 meters wide, and approximately 6.4 meters thick, carved in situ from a single natural rock formation. The stone Buddha sits cross-legged on the ground, with an exposed chest and navel, and three small arhats are also carved on its legs and waist. The statue is well-proportioned with smooth lines, embodying both form and spirit; its stone quality, scale, and exquisite craftsmanship are breathtaking! It is the largest three-dimensional stone Maitreya Buddha seated statue in the country and was listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit in 1996. Ruoyan Mountain is home to thousands of uniquely shaped rock caves, and there are over 100 cliff inscriptions from the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties on the mountain, which hold great artistic and ornamental value.