Leshan Giant Buddha: Standing Guard for 1,200 Years

Carved into the cliff where the Min, Dadu and Qingyi rivers meet, the Leshan Giant Buddha is 71 metres tall — its ears alone are 7 metres long. A UNESCO site and still awe-inspiring after 1,200 years.

Two ways to see it

• Walk the cliff plank road — descend beside the Buddha to stand at its feet (expect queues in peak season).
• River cruise — a boat gives the famous full-frontal view of the Buddha and the surrounding cliffs.

Practical notes

Arrive early; the plank road caps visitor numbers. Tickets are booked online. The site is ~2h from Chengdu by high-speed rail to Leshan station, then a short bus or taxi.

Make it a two-day trip

Leshan pairs perfectly with Mount Emei (40 min away) — Buddha by day one, sunrise summit by day two.

Built by monk Hai Tong in the 8th century to calm the turbulent river currents below.