Caleb Falcon
Leshan in Sichuan Province is part of an area including nearby Mt Emei, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on account of its natural beauty, archaeological and cultural importance.
The main attraction is the Leshan Giant Buddha a 71 meter high statue of the seated Buddha carved into Mount Jiudin facing the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qinqyi Rivers. It was started in the 8th century and completed in the 9th.
The statue is part of a historic scenic area spread over 2,500 ha that has more than 90 stone carvings and Buddhist shrines, dating from the Tang Dynasty and tombs, pagodas and temples dating from earlier periods. Anantara Emei Resort & Spa a luxurious Sichuan hotel is surrounded by the primary UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Sichuan Province.
The single arched elegant partly covered bridge Haoshang Bridge designed in an 'antique' style links the path to the Giant Buddha statue with other antiquities in the surrounding hills. Many ancient statues and other antiquities are among the attractions along the narrow pathway to the bottom of the Giant Buddha statue by the river.
Built in the 7th century and renovated in the 17th century the temple is interestingly located on top of Mount Jiudin, above the head of the Giant Buddha statue. The Yijing Annotation Cave dated to the 15th century is on the premises of the temple.
Reached along the 500 meter cliff path from the Giant Buddha the temple is picturesquely perched atop a hill. Dated to the 8th century during the Tang Dynasty it features several halls dedicated to various deities that are of cultural and historical interest as they show artistic and religious influences from Nepal and Tibet. The Hall of Arahats in the temple premises is an early 20th century addition rebuilt in 1986 that features interestingly posed statues of 500 disciples of the Sakyamuni Buddha.
Dating from the Eastern Han Dynasty between the 1st and 2nd centuries AD, the caves house the remains of local nobles and their grave goods that include carved figures of soldiers, horses and some of the earliest Buddha figures to have been found in China. A museum in the caves display finds from the tombs
The 7th century 13 storey pagoda on a peak of the same name is another attraction that was built during the same period as the Giant Buddha. Unfortunately it is not possible to climb the 29 meter tower.
Another interesting cave in the vicinity of the Giant Buddha is the 10 meter deep tomb said to have been dug in the 3rd century. A monk by the name of Haitong had occupied the cave during the construction of the Giant Buddha.
Among the natural attraction of Leshan is the 30 km Jinkouhe Grand Canyon carved by the Dadu River. It is 2.600 meters deep in some places leaving steep sides, mist covered peaks and strangely shaped rock formations. However it is not a vast open depression being only 4 to 8 miles across for most of its length.
