Originating in India over 2,500 years ago, Buddhism is spread across the planet but is concentrated in Asia. You can find an infinite amount of impressive monuments to Siddhartha Gautama, better known as Buddha, throughout the continent.
Of these monuments, perhaps the most awe-inspiring are the gigantic statues of the Buddha that rise hundreds of feet above the ground. Even if you're not a follower of this religion, it's worth visiting these statues to see the wonders that humanity has built in the name of faith.
These are the tallest Buddha statues in the world.
19. Phuket Big Buddha (Tie)
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Location: Phuket, Thailand
Height: 148 feet
Year completed: 2008
How to See the Phuket Big Buddha
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Phuket's Big Buddha statue is easily one of the most recognizable in the world — partly because of its size and partly because it is located in a popular Thai destination.
Depicting a sitting Buddha in white marble, the statue (whose local name is Phra Phutta Ming Mongkol Eknakiri) stands on top of Nakkerd Hill. Besides seeing the imposing monument, you'll get breathtaking panoramic views that stretch all the way to the ocean.
19. Jixiang Giant Buddha (Tie)
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Location: Jinghong, China
Height: 148 feet
Year completed: 2008
How to See the Jixiang Giant Buddha
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The golden giant Buddha of Jixiang is located within the Mengle Buddhist Temple, the largest Theravada Buddhist temple in China.
Destroyed in the 19th century and rebuilt in 2005, the temple holds religious and cultural significance for the Dai people, an ethnic minority group that populates the southern borders of Myanmar and Laos.
The large statue is the centerpiece of the temple and part of its draw for national and international tourists.
15. Big Buddha of Donglin (Tie)
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Location: Jiujiang, China
Height: 157 feet
Year completed: 2013
How to See the Big Buddha of Donglin
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The golden Big Buddha of Donglin is located inside the tranquil Donglin Temple, which has been standing since 386 A.D.
Although visitors are welcome to the temple, this is a place of worship and meditation first and foremost, which probably explains why this gorgeous Buddha surrounded by flames is not more famous.
Tourists can stay in the temple's guesthouses, which we highly recommend as a unique experience. Just don't expect anything fancy, since you will literally be living like a monk.
15. Fo Guang Big Buddha (Tie)
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Location: Kaohsiung, Taiwan
Height: 157 feet
Year completed: 2011
How to See the Fo Guang Big Buddha
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This big Buddha statue is part of Taiwan's Fo Guang Shan Buddha Museum. When counting the pedestal, the monument measures 354 feet. In meters, the total height of the statue is 108, a number of great significance in Buddhism.
Bronze covered with gold makes the Fo Guang Big Buddha shine brightly as it sits over the Buddhist center.
15. Jinding Giant Buddha (Tie)
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Location: Dunhua, China
Height: 157 feet
Year completed: 2011
How to See the Jinding Giant Buddha
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Although it's the tallest outdoor bronze statue of a sitting Buddha, the Jinding Giant Buddha is relatively unknown.
Nevertheless, the statue and the temple surrounding it are enough reasons to plan a visit to Dunhua, a city in China's Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture. Sitting on a collection of lotus flowers, it is a beautiful representation of this important religious figure.
One of four statues measuring 157 feet, the Jinding Giant Buddha is a commemoration of Gautama's birthday, usually celebrated on April 8 of the lunar calendar. The statue measures exactly 48 meters.
15. Ten Directions Samantabhadra Bodhisattva (Tie)
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Location: Dunhua, China
Height: 157 feet
Year completed: 2011
How to See the Ten Directions Samantabhadra Bodhisattva
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This statue reflects the Samantabhadra bodhisattva and the 10 great aspirations he made, which are the basis of a form of Buddhism commonly practiced in East Asia.
Sitting on top of elephant figures, this Buddha of many faces can be seen in Dunhua in Northern China.
14. Buddha in Kande Viharaya
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Location: Aluthgama, Sri Lanka
Height: 160 feet
Year completed: 2007
How to See the Buddha in Kande Viharaya
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Sri Lanka's tallest Buddha statue is also the 49th largest statue in the world. Rather than portraying Gautama in a monotone gold or bronze, this monument uses vivid colors, with a red lotus base and a soft orange tone for the Buddha's robe.
The statue is located within the Kande Biharaya Temple in the seaside town of Aluthgama. Easily accessible from Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, the temple is a popular destination for both religious pilgrims and tourists who want to learn more about Buddhism.
13. Great Standing Maitreya Buddha
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Location: Beipu, Taiwan
Height: 186 feet
Year completed: 2011
How to See the Great Standing Maitreya Buddha
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This joyful Buddha stands tall with a globe in his hand, symbolizing both the global reach of Buddhism and its universal appeal.
We love this statue for its peculiar portrayal of the Buddha. Laughing Buddhas are not uncommon in general, but they are when it comes to statues of this height.
The statue's genuine smile lightens the heart of anyone who visits it.
12. The Great Buddha of Roi Et
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Location: Roi Et, Thailand
Height: 194 feet
Year completed: 1979
How to See the Great Buddha of Roi Et
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The pride of Roi Et province is this unusually slender Buddha, which stands in a blessing position within the intricate Wat Burapha Phiram temple.
Though not the most visited spot in Thailand, the temple is popular with national tourists for both religious and cultural reasons.
Besides the unique statue, whose proportions have been both criticized and praised, the temple is a gorgeous composition of white and gold with green and red accents.
11. The Big Buddha of Wat Tai Thoeng
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Location: Mukdahan, Thailand
Height: 197 feet
Year completed: 2018
How to See the The Big Buddha of Wat Tai Thoeng
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Driving up to Wat Roy Phra Phutthabat Phu Manorom (also known as Wat Tai Thoeng) is quite the experience. The temple is perched atop a mountain, and its white giant Buddha can be seen from the road.
Once at the temple, you'll get to see many different statues of the Buddha as well as views of the Mekong River and the Thai border with Laos.
10. The Giant Buddha of Guifeng
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Location: Shangrao, China
Height: 223 feet
Year completed: 2005
How to See the Giant Buddha of Guifeng
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Reclining Buddha statues can be found in many temples, but they don't exactly make for tall monuments, given the position of the Buddha.
Still, the Giant Buddha of Guifeng in China manages to break into the top 10, measuring 223 feet high and 1,365 feet long. To make it, sculptors used the natural shape of a hill, which looked like a reclining person, and carved details into it.
Despite its claim to fame, this impressive Buddha statue is fairly obscure. Few foreigners have seen it and few pictures of it exist, at least outside of China.
9. Phra Buddha Dhammakaya Dhepmongkol
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Location: Bangkok, Thailand
Height: 226 feet
Year completed: 2022
How to See the Phra Buddha Dhammakaya Thep Mongkol
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The newest statue on this list was unveiled in 2022 and stands 226 feet tall. Those looking to see this sitting Buddha will be happy to know it's in Bangkok's Wat Paknam Bhasicharoen.
Plan to stop at this temple if you're visiting the Thai capital.
8. Leshan Giant Buddha
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Location: Leshan, China
Height: 233 feet
Year completed: 803
How to See the Leshan Giant Buddha
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It may not be the tallest, but the Leshan Giant Buddha is the oldest statue on this list, finished in 803. It is also, in our opinion, one of the most impressive Buddha statues on the planet.
The ancient monument was carved from a red cliff in the Sichuan province of China — a process that took about 90 years. Facing Mount Emei, it is part of a venerated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
7. Giant Buddha of Son Tay
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Location: Son Tay, Vietnam
Height: 236 feet
Year completed: 2020
How to See the Giant Buddha of Son Tay
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Inaugurated in 2020, this giant Buddha is located inside the Khai Nguyen pagoda. Since it's near Hanoi, it's easy for tourists to visit it while they tour the Vietnamese capital.
Visitors will also enjoy walking around the pagoda, which has beautiful grounds and offers classes for those who want to learn more about Buddhism.
5. Statue of Gautama Buddha (Tie)
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Location: Kyaikhto, Myanmar
Height: 259 feet
Year completed: 2019
How to See the Statue of Gautama Buddha
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As the second-tallest sitting Buddha on the planet, one would think that this Burmese statue would enjoy worldwide fame. But it doesn't.
Part of its obscurity has to do with the political instability that has kept many people from enjoying the wonders of Myanmar. But the Buddha is also overshadowed by the even more famous Golden Rock, another Buddhist monument in Kyaikhto.
Still, if you're ever in the area, it is highly recommended that you visit both.
5. Grand Buddha at Ling Shan (Tie)
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Location: Wuxi, China
Height: 259 feet
Year completed: 1996
How to See the Grand Buddha at Ling Shan
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Made with 725 tons of copper, the Grand Buddha of Ling Shan dominates Wuxi's skyline in the very best of ways. It is one of the symbols of the city and one of its main tourist draws.
Standing on a giant lotus pedestal and towering over temples, the fifth-tallest Buddha statue is certainly impressive.
4. Great Buddha of Thailand
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Location: Ang Thong, Thailand
Height: 305 feet
Year completed: 2008
How to See the Great Buddha of Thailand
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Thailand's largest Buddha statue also holds the top spot for monuments depicting Gautama in a sitting position.
Towering over 300 feet, you'll strain your neck trying to take in its majestic golden shine. The statue is located in Wat Muang in Ang Thong. Despite its proximity to Bangkok and its gigantic frame, the Great Buddha of Thailand doesn't enjoy as much international recognition as Phuket's Big Buddha.
The statue attracts Buddhists from around the world, and the province has practiced detachment when it comes to fame.
3. Ushiku Great Buddha
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Location: Ushiku, Japan
Height: 330 feet
Year completed: 1993
How to See the Ushiku Great Buddha
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From 1993 to 2008, Japan's Ushiku Great Buddha was the tallest statue on the planet. Made with bronze and foregoing marble or gold plating, the statue is humble but astonishing.
Unlike most statues, the Ushiku Buddha is also a museum of the religion, with different floors dedicated to scriptures or housing smaller golden Buddha statues.
The fourth floor is an observation tower from which you can enjoy sweeping views.
2. Laykyun Sekkya
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Location: Khatakan Taung, Myanmar
Height: 380 feet
Year completed: 2008
How to See the Laykyun Sekkya
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It took 12 years for the Laykyun Sekkya to be completed, but the result was worth it. This was the tallest Buddha in the world for a couple of months before the next statue on this list dethroned it. It is still the tallest in Myanmar.
Besides its great height, the Laykyun Sekkya distinguishes itself from other monuments by standing over a reclining Buddha statue. The restful statue symbolizes Gautama's death, and the erect one portrays him reaching nirvana, or enlightenment.
1. Spring Temple Buddha
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Location: Henan, China
Height: 420 feet
Year completed: 2008
How to See the Spring Temple Buddha
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At 420 feet, the magnificent Spring Temple Buddha in Henan, China, soars above the clouds. The golden Buddha stands proud, inspiring devoted practitioners who visit it.
For 10 years, the Spring Temple Buddha also held the title of being the tallest statue in the whole world. In 2018, India's Statue of Unity knocked it to second place — which is not a bad place to be at all.