Leshan Giant Buddha (day trip)

The Leshan Giant Buddha, 130 km south of Chengdu, is the world's largest stone Buddha statue at 71 metres tall. Carved from a cliff face at the confluence of three rivers during the Tang dynasty, it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the most impressive Buddhist monuments in Asia.

The best view is from the river — take a boat tour from Leshan town for the full frontal view. You can also descend the cliff stairs (very steep, very crowded in peak season) to stand at the Buddha's feet. High-speed trains from Chengdu East Station reach Leshan in about 40 minutes. Combine with Emei Shan (the sacred Buddhist mountain 30 km away) for a proper two-day excursion.

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A story
The Leshan Giant Buddha was begun in 713 AD by a Buddhist monk named Haitong, who hoped that its presence would calm the dangerous currents at the junction of three rivers — the Min, Dadu, and Qingyi — that were sinking ferry boats and killing travelers. He spent 20 years overseeing the work, and when local officials threatened to divert funds, reportedly gouged out his own eyes to demonstrate his sincerity. He died before the statue was completed; it took 90 years in total. The rock displaced during construction did, in fact, calm the currents by altering the riverbed, vindicating the plan if not quite by divine intervention.

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