Leshan - Sichuan Province

About 80 miles south of Chengdu, Leshan is famous for being the home of DaFo, or ‘Giant Buddha’. This impressive statue is over 1,200 years old and deserves its name by standing at over 70 metres tall and having feet big enough for over 100 people to sit on comfortably. Built during the Tang Dynasty it is testament to the skills of its builders that is still standing despite the attention of both erosion and the Cultural Revolution. In 1996 Leshan was included in UNESCO’s list of world heritage sites. DaFo can be viewed close up on foot in the Giant Buddha Park, or from the comfort of a leisurely boat trip along the river.