Da Nang City may be known for its amazing beaches, but it is also famous for its cultural and even spiritual sites, like pagodas, statues and other related structures.
The Linh Ung Son Tra Pagoda in Son Tra Peninsula, Son Tra District is the biggest in the city and perhaps the most interesting because of its fascinating combination of traditional and contemporary Vietnam architecture. Constructed in 2004 and covering an area of 20 hectares, it is made up of several structures such as a sanctum, hall, library and religious statues.
The sanctum was built to worship the gods Shakyamuni Bodhisattava, Avalokitesvaa Bohisattva and Ksitigabha Bohisattva. It is designed with pillars intricately carved with dragons.
At the Arhat Garden just across the sanctum, 18 huge white stone statues can be found, each expressing human emotions such as love, joy, anger and sadness.
An Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva statue 76 metres tall, standing on a 35-metre diameter lotus-shaped platform and facing the ocean is the main attraction in the pagoda. It is so big that it is composed of 17 levels, each containing a Buddha statue with varying appearances, expressions and gestures.
Image by: http://vietnamtourism.gov.vn/
Even the pagoda’s entrance is an attraction in itself as it has a full view of Da Nang City’s exceptional architecture and yes, its world-renowned beaches. The Marble Mountains and Da Nang Beach in particular can be enjoyed from the pagoda’s entry.
Linh Ung Son Tra Pagoda was inaugurated on July 30, 2010.