Upon arriving at my accommodation in Chengdu, I enquired about the weather conditions as it was pretty smoggy outside and I wanted to see the LeshanGiant Buddha on the clearest day I had here, at reception they told me that this was gonna be the best day so without even checking in I was off on a two hour coach ride to Leshan to see this extraordinary sight that I’ve dreamt about for the last 6 months ~ and after seeing the Buddha in all his glory I was not disappointed!
Leshan Giant Buddha Photos
The Big Buddha in all his glory, 230ft in height and took 90 years to finish construction in 803 AD, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduWooden path clings to the sandstone face of Lingyun Hill, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduFerries arriving at the foot of Dafo, Leshan, ChengduI first heard/saw about the Leshan Giant Buddha in a BBC documentary, Adventures In Architecture with Dan Cruickshank, and in that they film this same shot from the boat ~ the giant hand hiding the bigger picture that is...One of the guardian figures that flank the Big Buddha (Dafo), Leshan, ChengduLeshan Giant Buddha! this is the largest stone Buddha in the world at 233 feet! (and taking this photo on a rocking, sea splashing boat was no mean feat!)View from one of the ferries I was on heading out to see Dafo, Leshan, ChengduFerry port where I caught my boat to see Dafo, Leshan, ChengduA laughing Buddha in the Buddha Cultural ParkDragon fountain sculpture, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduClose up of the Giant Buddha Torii, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduThe Giant Buddha Torii, it's the main gate into the Buddha Cultural Park and the entrance to the Leshan Giant Buddha!Lots of steps to climb up to the top of Dafo, Leshan, ChengduPagoda at the top of Dafo, Leshan, ChengduStatue and temple in the hills of Dafo, Leshan, ChengduTemple on Lingyun Hill, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduChairman Mao sculpture in a temple at Dafo, Leshan, ChengduYin Yang water sculptureChinese man offering incense sticks at the Jiazhou Huayuan temple, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduOnce you've climbed up the stairs to the top of this cliff your rewarded with an incredible sight ~ just check out the size of the ears!The Big Buddha known as Dafo in Leshan, ChengduAs you can see the stone that Buddha is carved out of is degrading from weathering, air pollution, and swarms of tourists (this part of the cliff was not connected to the actual Buddha himself and I think it's considered lucky to stick your fingers in!)About to descend the steep Nine Turns staircase to the foot of Big Buddha, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduInformation board on the largest stone Buddha in the world, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduSee the toes of Big Buddha in this photo to get a sense of scale here, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduDeities meticulously carved into the sandstone face of the Nine Turns Staircase, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduWalking down the cliff face you can get some great shots of the Giant Budda, the moss seems to add to the tranquility of the placeDescending carefully down the Nine Turns Staircase, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduPray cushions set out at the foot of the Big Buddha, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduAs you can see in this shot there are the winding stairs that take you down to the bottom of the Buddha, takes about 40 mins to get down them due to the queues of peopleTook this one to show the size of a toe ~ his smallest toenail is large enough to easily accommodate a seated person!View of a ferry and Leshan from the sandstone cliff face, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduView of the sandstone Nine Turns staircase to the foot of Big Buddha about 71 metres in height, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduThis is one of my favourite shots of the Buddha ~ I like how small the people look in comparison to him on the other side!Close up of the Big Buddhas head, his nose measures 18ft long, Dafo, Leshan, ChengduSome colourful incense sticks outside the temple behind the BuddhaJiazhou Huayuan temple and museum of Dafo, Leshan, Chengdu
