Leshan Giant Buddha 樂山大佛
The Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan Province, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a part of the Mount Emei scenic area.
The statue is carved from a red sandstone river cliff at the confluence of the Min and Dadu rivers in southern Sichuan. It stands at a height of 71 meters and is the tallest and largest stone statue of Buddha in the world. Indeed, historians consider it the the tallest pre-modern statue in the world.
History
Buddhism was first established in China in Mount Emei, Sichuan Province in the 1st century A.D. The beautiful, mountainous surroundings contain the Giant Buddha of Leshan, carved in the 8th century and the largest Buddha in the world.
The Buddha was created between 713 and 803 during the Tang dynasty of Chinese history.
Legend has it that the inspiration behind the statue was a desire to curb the turbulent flow of the rivers on the part of the Chinese monk Hai Tong.
Construction was piecemeal and continued in stages long after Hai Tong's death.
Over the centuries the statue has been repaired and restored many times. More recently it has been threatened by pollution from nearby industry. The wooden temple and shelter that once stood over and adjacent to the structure have both long since disappeared - destroyed by the Mongols during the Yuan dynasty.
The statue incorporates an ingenious drainage system of pipes within the body that helps protect it from heavy rain.
The statue is of Maitreya - the Buddha of the future. It sits looking out over the waters in a calm pose, hands on knees.
The clay ears on a wooden frame are attached to the head.
Leshan Giant Buddha Access - how to get to Leshan Giant Buddha
Leshan Giant Buddha is about 150 km south of Chengdu and can be reached by local bus from Leshan city. There are High Speed Trains and express buses connecting Chengdu and Leshan. Journey time from Chengdu East Railway Station to Leshan is around 1 hour by HST.
Many local tour operators offer various guided tours of the Buddha including boat tours on the river.
The steps cut into the hillside are steep and can be slippery. It takes around an hour to reach the top. Also at peak periods there may be an hour's wait for your turn to ascend.
Sichuan Hotels - Chengdu & Leshan
Hotel accommodation options have expanded greatly in Chengdu.
Luxury hotel options include the 5-star Crowne Plaza Chengdu City Center, with cable TV, minibar and a coffee/tea maker, and the 5-star Kempinski Hotel Chengdu.
The Kempinski Hotel Chengdu boasts a German Beerhouse with freshly brewed beer and traditional Bavarian cuisine. There is also a western-style restaurant offering international buffet as well as Sichuan and Cantonese cuisine in the Chinese restaurant.
The Rhombus Park Aura Chengdu Hotel is another 5-star luxury hotel with fitness centre, seasonal indoor pool and relaxation and massage spa.
Leshan city also has a good choice of accommodation. Choose from the Holiday Inn Express Leshan City Square, the Leshan Ramada Hotel or the Leshan Hanbo Gaiya Hotel with pool, a fitness centre and choice of restaurants.
See here for a selection of accommodation in Leshan city.
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