The Spring Temple Buddha is the sight that makes Pingdingshan worth considering from outside the city itself. The Vairocana statue rises 128 metres, or 153 metres including the lotus throne, above a valley in Lushan County. Its scale is hard to grasp from photographs: the figure dominates the approach road long before you reach the base.
The complex is modern and can feel more monumental than intimate, but the setting gives it weight. Combine it with Yaoshan if you have a full day and transport arranged, as public connections from central Pingdingshan are possible but slow.