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China Travel

Top Attractions in Leshan, Sichuan

Wednesday, December 30, 2015
Top Attractions in Leshan
The famous Leshan Giant Buddha, also a World Heritage Site by UNESCO

Leshan (乐山 or Happy Mountain) is located 120 kilometers away from Chengdu, in the Chinese Sichuan Province. It sits on the confluence of the Qingyi, Dadu and Minjiang rivers, and is usually a stopover for those en route to or from Emeishan (Mount Emei).

Getting to Leshan

High-Speed Train
To/From Chengdu East Railway Station (成都东站/Chéngdū-dōng Zhàn) - 45 minutes, ¥54
To/From Emeishan (峨嵋山/ Éméi shān) - 15 minutes, ¥11

Bus
Accessible from Chengdu (2 hours), Emeishan (20 minutes), Jiajiang, Kangding, Meishan, Pengshan, Shawan, Ya'an, Yibin. Zigong, and other surrounding cities

Plane
The nearest airport is the Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport (150km away)

Leshan Giant Buddha
Entrance to the Leshan Giant Buddha site

 

Top Attractions in Leshan, Sichuan

The only reason majority of the tourists travel to Leshan is to witness the grandeur of the Leshan Giant Buddha (乐山大佛/lèshāndàfó). The stone statue is 71-metre in height and was built during the Tang Dynasty in year 713. It is carved out of a cliff, facing the junction of the Qingyi, Dadu and Minjiang rivers in the Southern Sichuan basin. Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha in the world and is also claimed to be the tallest pre-modern statue ever built. It was listed as the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.

what to do in chengdu
Visitors have to climb a few flight of stairs before getting to the Buddha

Tips to Visiting Leshan Giant Buddha

  • It's best to visit late in the afternoon or early evening to avoid having to compete and wait in the line among dozens of Chinese tour groups (expect to wait up to 1.5 hours)
  • There are two ways of getting to the Buddha: By foot (climb the stairs, wait in the line) or by a ferry which stops right in front of the statue (¥70)
  • Pack along water and food. You may find tea-houses here but food are either scarce or expensive. It is also good to have something to nibble while waiting in line
  • Bring along a sweater. It gets very breezy once you are near the rivers
  • Keep an eye out for the beautiful and unique carvings of various Buddhas while you climb down the stairs leading to the Giant Buddha
  • Nine Turns Staircase are stairs leading down to the Giant Buddha. It is very steep so the elderly might need more time and effort to make it down. Be patient and understanding!

beautiful places in sichuan
You were warned

Top Attractions in Leshan
popular places in leshan
what to do in leshan
Stairs are steep and winding

what to see in leshan
Be fascinated by how much the Chinese enjoy poking the holes in the walls

what to see in leshan
Clear view of the Buddha's head from the top

what to do in leshan
popular places in leshan
Beautiful Buddha carvings on the cliff walls

popular places in leshan
Comparison of the size of Buddha's foot and everything else
Leshan Giant Buddha
Have your time, effort and patience rewarded with a majestic sight all the way down

beautiful places in china
Nine Turns Staircase. Beautiful smiles on the faces of those who have made it to the feet

beautiful places in china
Leshan Giant Buddha overlooking the three rivers, giving protection to those traveling through them


Other Top Attractions in Leshan

Monk Haitong Cave

A Chinese monk named Haitong started the construction in hopes that the Giant Buddha would be able to calm the turbulent waters, allowing shipping vessels to pass the water safely. The project was completed 90 years after Haitong's death. Monk Haitong was said to be living in this 10-meter deep cave when the Grand Buddha was being carved.

Leshan Giant Buddha
Monk Haitong Cave


Dafo Lake

A lake with serene ambiance located behind the Grand Buddha, among the temples.

Top Attractions in Leshan
what to do in leshan
Dafo Lake, Leshan


Confucian Temple

Read poetry and scholastic scriptures carved on wooden walls in this quiet and uncrowded temple.

popular places in leshan
what to see in leshan
Stair leading to the temple

 

 

People-watching

People watching is a joy here. Chinese from different provinces in China generally behave uniquely and if you are as big of a fan of China as I am, you'd enjoy guessing who is from where based on their appearances, outfits, and accents.

beautiful places in china
A monk with a selfie stick. And a cell phone. #mindblown


Temple-hopping

There are a few temples surrounding the Giant Buddha and but one of them requires an entrance fee (I would never pay to visit a temple - monetizing religion is a sin)

Leshan Giant Buddha
Restoration work in progress. Efforts put into producing those intricate details are amazing.

beautiful places in sichuan
An old man taking a rest in front of a temple
Top Attractions in Leshan
A pagoda near the exit - for those who still have the strength to walk

Additional Info

  • Entrance fee to the Leshan Giant Buddha is ¥90
  • Opening hours: 7:30am to 7:30pm (summer); 8:00am to 6:00pm (winter)
  • Touring the entire Leshan Giant Buddha site might take up to 6 hours, depending on the crowd and how much you can walk

Leshan Giant Buddha
Leshan, Sichuan, China
+86 833 230 2296

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Travel

The Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Friday, December 11, 2015
It is tough restricting the selection of the beautiful places to see on earth to just 24. Being able to explore foreign countries and cultures is a privilege, hence everyone should have a travel bucket list. Don't know where to start? Here are a few ideas to get you inspired:

The Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Sonamarg

Location: Ganderbal district, Jammu and Kashmir, India
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List

Sonamarg

 

Namtso

Location: Tibet Autonomous Region of China
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Namtso

Key Gompa

Location: Spiti Valley of Himachal Pradesh, Lahaul and Spiti district, India
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Key Gompa

Nagaland

Location: Northeast India
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Nagaland

Fjaðrárgljúfur

Location: Southeast Iceland
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Fjaðrárgljúfur

Gunung Bromo

Location: East Java, Indonesia
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Gunung Bromo

Altai Tavan Bog

Location: Mongolia
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Altai Tavan Bog

Pig Beach

Location: Exuma, Bahamas
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Pig Beach

Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye

Location: Glen Brittle, United Kingdom
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye

Machu Picchu

Location: Andes Mountains, Peru
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Machu Picchu

Svalbard

Location: Norwegian archipelago between mainland Norway and the North Pole
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Svalbard

Marble Caverns of Carrera Lake

Location: Patagonia, Chile
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Marble Caverns of Carrera Lake

Shahara Bridge

Location: Shahara, Yemen
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Shahara Bridge

Ngorongoro 

Location: Crater Highlands area of Tanzania
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Ngorongoro

South Luangwa National Park

Location: Eastern Zambia
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
South Luangwa National Park

Mount Kilimanjaro

Location: Tanzania
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Mount Kilimanjaro

Jemaa el-Fna

Location: Marrakesh
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Jemaa el-Fna

Cordillera Huayhuash

Location: Andes, Peru
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Cordillera Huayhuash

Torres del Paine

Location: Patagonia, Chile
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Torres del Paine

Nā Pali

Location: Kauaʻi, Hawaii
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Nā Pali

Tsingy de Bemaraha

Location: Melaky Region, Madagascar
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Tsingy de Bemaraha

Paro

Location: Bhutan
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Paro

Milford Sound

Location: New Zealand's South Island
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Milford Sound

Tangier

Location: Northern Morocco
The Ultimate Travel Bucket List
Tangier

Traveling is a never-ending journey. It is the best teacher, and it opens our eyes and minds to things we never knew existed.

"The purpose of life is to live it, to taste it, to experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience." – Eleanor Roosevelt

What's next on your travel list?
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