As the best viewing time approaches, Zhaoqing's Xinghu Scenic Area is set to showcase one of nature's most mesmerizing spectacles – the "Sleeping Buddha swallowing golden ball".
Occurring annually near the Spring Equinox (on March 20 this year) and Autumn Equinox, this extraordinary celestial event takes place around 6:00 PM at clear dusks, when the setting sun slowly dips into the mouth of the natural "Sleeping Buddha" formed by several peaks stretching 1.2 kilometers.
This year, the perfect time to witness this phenomenon is around 18:20 from March 27 to 29. The event, which lasts for several minutes, will occur approximately 30 seconds later each day. Visitors are recommended to head to "Buddha-viewing Island" (观佛岛) at Xinghu National Wetland Park to catch this unforgettable sight.
This celestial event carries significant astronomical and geographical importance. The Xinghu National Wetland Park lies directly on the Tropic of Cancer, making it home to four major astronomical phenomena aligned with the traditional Chinese 24 solar terms: "shadowless pole" on Summer Solstice, "moon directly over the cave" on Winter Solstice, and "Sleeping Buddha swallowing golden ball" on Spring Equinox and Autumn Equinox.
Address: Xinghu Scenic Area, No.1 Wenming North Road, Duanzhou District, Zhaoqing (肇庆市端州区文明北路1号星湖旅游景区)
Author: Huang Xinying
Photo: Xinghu Scenic Area
Editor: Liu Lingzhi, James, Shen He
