Giant Buddha of Leshan

The massive Giant Buddha of Leshan. Photo David Schroeter.

View of Giant Buddha across the river

View of the Giant Buddha from across the river. Photo Sean Lee.

Visitors are dwarfed by the Buddha's giant foot.
Photo Matthew Winterburn.

Stairs to the Giant Buddha. Photo Patrick Rioux.

Giant Buddha of Leshan

Face of the Giant Buddha. Photo Patrick Rioux.

The heavy-lidded eyes of the Giant Buddha. Photo Patrick Rioux.

Sculptures of arhats at Wuyou Si in Leshan. Photo Ben V.

The Giant Buddha of Leshan (aka Dafo) is the tallest stone Buddha statue in the world, carved out of a cliff face by an 8th-century monk in southern Szechuan province. The Giant Buddha overlooks the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers and faces the sacred Mount Emei (with which it shares its World Heritage status).

History

Construction on the Giant Buddha began in 713 AD. It was the idea of a Chinese monk named Haitong, who hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels travelling down the river. His plans were not just supernatural - the enormous amount of rubble carved away from the cliff would be deposited in the river, altering the currents and calming the waters.

When government funding for the project was threatened, the monk is said to have gouged out his own eyes to show his piety and sincerity. The construction project was continued by his disciples and finally completed by the local governor in 803.

Today, there are still some strong currents where the three rivers meet - but none that threaten the tourist ferries. The "Mount Emei Scenic Area with Leshan Giant Buddha" was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

What to See

Known as Dafo, the statue depicts a seated Maitreya Buddha with his hands resting on his knees, gazing across the river with heavy-lidded eyes. Maitreya is the future Buddha, who will appear to preach the dharma when the teachings of Gautama Buddha have faded away. He was especially popular during the 4th to 7th centuries and his images can be found throughout the Buddhist world, conveying his characteristic air of expectancy and promise.

Standing 71 meters (233 feet) tall, Dafo is the tallest Buddha statue in the world. His shoulders are 28 meters (92 feet) wide and his smallest toenail can accommodate a seated person. Each eyebrow is 18 feet long. According to a local saying, "The mountain is a Buddha and the Buddha is a mountain."

Several drainage passages hidden in the Buddha's hair, collar, chest, and holes in the back of his ears preventing the Buddha from serious erosion and weathering. He has been lovingly maintained on a regular basis throughout his 1,200-year history, but is still a bit mossy.

Visitors stare in awe at the Buddha from the tourist ferries and from a terrace next to his ear. On one side of the terrace is a modern statue of the monk Haitong, and behind is the Lingyun Temple Museum with exhibits on the construction and renovations of Dafo.

South of the Giant Buddha is Wuyou Si, which visitors pass on the way from the ferry to the Buddha. A pink-walled monastery founded in 742 AD, it has impressive decorations including splendid gate guardians, painted scenes from the Journey to the West (on the second hall) and amusing sculptures of arhats (inside the Louhan Hall).

On the other side of the gully on Lingyun Shan, there are signs for Han-dynasty tomb chambers, which suggest this site was sacred before the Buddha was carved.

Quick Facts

Site Information

Names:	Giant Buddha of Leshan; 樂山大佛/乐山大佛; Dafo
Dedicated to:	Maitreya Buddha
Location:	Leshan, Sichuan, China
Categories:	Colossal Statue; Buddhist Temples; World Heritage Sites
Faith:	Buddhism
Denomination:	Chinese
Status:	active
Date:	713-803
Architect:	Haitong
Architecture:	Tang
Size:	Height: 71 meters (233 feet) Width at shoulders: 28 meters (92 feet) One eyebrow length: 18 feet
Features:	Largest

Visitor Information

Coordinates:	29.547037° N, 103.769238° E (view on Google Maps)
Address:	Leshan, Szechuan Province, China
Hours:	May-Sept 7:30-7:30 Oct-Apr 8-6
Cost:	¥80
Public transport:	Bus 8 from Beinjiang Lu to the north entrance or ferry to Lingyun or Wuyou.

Note: This information was accurate when published and we do our best to keep it updated, but details such as opening hours can change without notice. To avoid disappointment, please check with the site directly before making a special trip.

Location Map

Below is a location map and aerial view of Giant Buddha of Leshan. Using the buttons on the left, zoom in for a closer look or zoom out to get your bearings. Click and drag the map to move around. For a larger view, see our China Map.

Article Sources

Article written by Holly Hayes with reference to the following sources:

Rough Guide to China 4 (2005), 910-11.
Mt. Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area - UNESCO World Heritage List
Leshan Giant Buddha - Buddhist Channel

Article last updated: 07/29/2009.