There’s nothing else quite like it on earth. Standing over 71 metres tall, the Leshan Giant Buddha is the tallest stone carving dedicated to the ancient philosopher and religious leader of the same name.
The design of the statue depicts Maitreya, a future Buddha of this world, who looks overlooks three converging rivers below with the hope that Buddha would allow safe passage for boats below that were plagued by turbulent waters. Ironically, it is believed that the construction of the statue resulted in so much stone being removed from the cliff face and deposited into the river below that the currents were indeed altered by the statue, making the water safe for passing ships.
Work on the statue was started in 723 AD and led by a Chinese monk named Hai Tong. While the head and body of the statue are carved in stone, the ears were actually built out of wood with mud applied to the surface to create clay. The ears were completed and then attached to the head afterward.
The carving is so large that one of its pinky toes it said to be as tall as a person!
The Leshan Giant Buddha can be reached via a day trip from nearby Chengdu and is one of four. The Mount Emei Scenic Area, where this statue is located has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996 and provides a pleasurable experience for hiking and mountain trekking.
Leshan Giant Buddha, Leshan, 乐山市 / Leshan, People’s Republic of China
