Leshan Giant Buddha


Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone sculpture of Buddha in the world, sits at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. According to records, the carving of this giant Buddha was begun in the first year of the reign of the Tang Emperor  Xuanzong (713 AD), and completed in the 19th year of Emperor Dezong (803 AD), a total of 90 years. 

Taking the shape of a Maitreya Buddha,who is depicted barefooted with drooping ears and has his hair arranged in a spiral topknot. His chest is exposed and his hands rest on his knees. Carved from the side of the Lingyun Hill, with his head level with the cliff top, the gigantic stone sculpture faces Mt. Emeishan, with the rivers flowing below his feet.

Looking dignified and solemn, the Buddha measures 71 meters in height. His shoulders are 28 meters across. The head is 14.7 meters long and 10 meters broad with total 1021 buns of hair on it. The instep, which is 8.5 meters wide, can accommodate 100 people. The toe is large enough to accommodate a dinner table. Taller by 17 meters than the standing Buddha in Afghanistan, Leshan Giant Buddha is therefore the tallest Buddha in the world and in 1996, it was added to the World Natural and Cultural Heritage List.

Besides all of these, by cruising over the Minjiang river right in front of the Buddha Mount (Lingyunshan) one will be able to have a panoramic view of the whole mountain as a huge sleeping Buddha. On Mount Linyunshan stands the Pagoda of the Souls. It is 125ft (38m) high built in the Song dynasty (960-1279) .Seen from the pagoda you can appreciate a beautiful view of the surrounding countryside.

When you are in Leshan Scenic area, many other attractions await your patronage: the Oriental Buddha Park located among Leshan mountain ranges is a themed park featuring joss stone inscriptions; Lingyun Temple on Lingyun Mountain; Mahao Cave-Tomb Museum contains China's earliest joss stone inscription; Wuyou Mountain is where the head of the Giant Sleeping Buddha is located and many pavilions have been built here.


Travel Tips
Add: No. 2435,  Lingyun Road, Central District, Leshan City, Sichuan Province. 
Opening hours:  April 1st - October 7th (peak season) 07:30-18:30;
                              October 8th - March 31st (off season) 08:00-17:30.
                              Oriental Buddha Capital: 08:00-18:00 throughout the year.
                               Night Tour Sanjiang (Baxian Cave): May 1st - October 31st (Summer) 20:00-22:30;
                               November 1st - April 30th (Winter) 19:30-22:00
                              Running shift: 2 shifts per day in summer; first shift at 20:00, second shift at 21:30;
                             winter 2 shifts per day; first shift at 19:30, second shift 21: 00 class.
Entrance Fee:    CNY 220 includes boat cruise


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