Attractions:      Mt.Emei         Leshan Giant Buddha

Mt.Emei

Lying in the southern area of Sichuan basin, Mt. Emei is one of the four holy Buddhist Mountains in China, extending over 200 kilometers in length and breadth. It is said that Mt. Emei got its name from two opposite peaks which look like eyebrows. Since Buddhism was introduced into China in the 1st century AD, Buddhist buildings have been built on the mountain.

Four Wonders of Mt.Emei are the Golden Summit Sunrise, sea of clouds, Buddha's Halo and the Holy Lamp. The main attractions include the Baoguo Temple, Fuhu Temple and Leiyin Temple. In 1996, Mt. Emei was recorded in the List of the World Famous Cultural Relics.

Normally one has to spend a full day up and a full day back in Mt. Emei; travelers can have a rest in the monasteries along the way or at the top which offer overnight accommodations.

Leshan Giant Buddha

Facing Mt. Emei, Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone sculpture of Buddha in the world. According to records, carving this giant Buddha took totally 90 years, from the first year of the reign of the Tang Emperor Tang Xuanzong (713 AD) to the 19th year of Emperor Dezong (803 AD). The Buddha, chest exposed, is depicted with barefoot and drooping ears, his hands resting on his knees. His hairs are arranged in a spiral topknot.

The Buddha measures 71 meters high with dignified and solemn appearance. His shoulders are 28 meters across. The head is 14.7 metes long and 10 meters broad with total 1021 buns of hair on it. The instep, which is 8.5 meters wide, can hold 100 people. The toe is large enough to put a dinner table on it. In 1996, it was added to the World Natural and Cultural Heritage List.

A legend is told that a river monster, which often caused floods, used to live there. Many passing boats were trapped and many people lost their lives. In order to subdue the waters and save lives, Master Haitong, a Buddhist abbot of the Lingyun Monastery, raised funds and started the construction of the Giant Buddha, with the hope that the presence of the Great Buddha would subdue the monster and thereby protect the boatmen who traversed the river.