Leshan Giant Buddha

The Leshan Giant Buddha is a 71-metre-tall stone statue carved into a cliff face at the confluence of three rivers near Leshan in Sichuan province. It dates to the Tang dynasty and is one of the largest monumental stone Buddha statues in the world.

The Buddha was carved to protect passing ships and to calm river currents; its seated figure dominates the river junction and is visible from the river, the riverbank, and the hill above. Visitors typically view the statue from a riverside cruise or climb pathways beside the cliff to see details such as the hair curls and carved ears.

Work on the statue began in 713 and continued through the early 8th century under the patronage of local monks and officials during the Tang dynasty; the site has been repaired and conserved at various times since. It is part of a larger Buddhist complex with temples and terraces below the cliff.

The site is located near the city of Leshan, about 120 kilometres south of Chengdu by road, set at the meeting point of the Dadu, Min and Qingyi rivers in a hilly river valley.

• Best viewpoint: Viewing from the river by boat gives the most complete sense of the statue's scale; dedicated viewing platforms and a stair route allow close inspection of the head and shoulders.