Hohhot, China, August 8 – Two scientists claim to have discovered a mountain range shaped like a sleeping Buddha in the northern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, reports Xinhua.
Ma Ping and his colleague were astonished when they saw that the outline of the Yuanham Uulaiin Sume Mountain in the western Alxa Left Banner (Bayan Hit Town) looked just like a Buddha sleeping on his back.
The Buddha outline stretched for several kilometres, with the head to the northeast and the feet to the southwest.
The two scientists from the Academy of Social Sciences of the neighbouring Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region made the discovery on an early morning in late July while carrying out a scientific study in the area.
“It was 4 o’clock on the morning of July 22 when I first saw this magnificent image appear above the horizon. It is amazing,” said Ma.
The contour of the Buddha’s hair, eyebrows, nose, mouth, neck, chest, stomach and legs can be clearly distinguished and the whole Buddha image can be seen from 10 kilometres away, said Ma.
“The body of the Buddha is well proportioned and the lines of the body are so graceful,” he said.
The discovery of the sleeping Buddha is expected to add a new highlight to local tourism and the local government is now taking steps to protect this natural feature.
The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region is controlled by China just like the Tibet Autonomous Region.
