A very large monastery / museum complex. We took the e02 bus from Zuoying High speed train station (NT$70, avoid the taxi touts, and note that buses are less frequent on weekdays). We went to the 'museum' site first, through what seemed a rather incongruous up-market shopping mall. The big Buddha statue seemed more fitting and in place in real life than in pictures. The jade Buddha shrine had a deep stillness. We then had a buffet lunch by the entrance - NT$130 with a wide choice of veggie options. We then went to the Sutra Hall - we were the only ones there, and on to the main shrine in the monastery. I preferred this side of the complex : it seemed to be the working end of things. Returned to Kaohsiung on the three o'clock bus

Not sure what part of Fo Guang Shan this is supposed to be a review for, because there are numerous displays here. Seriously, bring water, possibly an umbrella, and wear good shoes. This place is pretty open to the various schools of Buddhist thought and has statues and displays to most of them, which, if you know anything about Buddhism, is pretty cool. It's some distance from the travel hubs in Kaohsiung / Zuoying. We took the subway to Daliao and then an Uber to Fo Guang Shan, because it was the best hybrid of short travel times and price (side note - if you buy a subway card in Taibei, you can use it here). If you're looking for a way to Kaohsiung, try to get the HSR (high speed rail) from Taibei or Taoyuan (depending on where you're starting from), not the normal train.

While visiting Taiwan in January, my son, who lives in nearby Pingtung, brought my husband and I to the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Museum just outside of Kaohsiung. It is absolutely stunning and there is a lot to take in. If I could give any helpful tip, it would be to do your homework before you go, so you know what to look for and what to seek out, especially if you are an English speaker. Fo Guang Shan is an international Chinese Buddhist monastic order based in Taiwan. The headquarters of Fo Guang Shan, located in Dashu District, Kaohsiung, is the largest Buddhist monastery in Taiwan. The organization is also one of the largest charity organizations in Taiwan. The grounds are immense and encompass more than thirty hectares. We were there right around the Chinese New Year Holiday. We visited the Jade Buddha, walked around the grounds and got right up close to the Giant Bronze Buddha statue which is 108 metres tall including the base and 50 metres tall all on its own. It's equivalent to the size of a 36 storey building. It is the tallest Bronze sitting Buddha statue in the world. It's a really cool place to visit and like I said above, study up a bit first so you are more familiar with Buddhism, the culture and beliefs and you'll get more out of it. There are shops inside, it's air-conditioned and there are food booths (vegetarian).