Leshan

Leshan is a prefecture-level city in Sichuan province, southwestern China. It is situated on the eastern edge of the Sichuan Basin, at the confluence of the Min River with the Dadu and Qingyi rivers. The city and its surroundings are known for river landscapes, Buddhist heritage, and as a gateway to the Mount Emei region.

The city’s most famous landmark is the Leshan Giant Buddha, a colossal stone sculpture carved into a cliff along the river. Construction began in 713 and was completed in 803 AD during the Tang dynasty, under the guidance of the monk Haitong. The statue, depicting Maitreya in a seated pose, rises about 71 meters high and is renowned for its scale and engineering, including carved drainage features to manage rainwater and reduce erosion. The Giant Buddha is part of the Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha UNESCO World Heritage Site, inscribed in 1996.

Mount Emei, one of China’s Four Sacred Buddhist mountains, lies nearby and forms the other core component of the UNESCO site. Together, the Mount Emei and Leshan Giant Buddha area attracts millions of visitors each year and holds significant cultural and religious importance.

Economy and transportation in Leshan are dominated by tourism related to the Giant Buddha and Mount Emei, supplemented by manufacturing and agriculture. The city is connected to Chengdu and other Sichuan cities by road and rail, making it a regional travel hub for visitors exploring the Emei scenic area and related attractions.