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Leshan Travel China, Leshan Tour Guide

Hotels for your stay in Leshan    Leshan News
China Leshan City:
Leshan

Resident People:
3.43 million (urban population: 1.11 million)

General Information:
Leshan is a pretty little city that lies in the southwest of Sichuan Province, about 180 km from Chengdu and 20 km from Emeishan.

Geography:
Located in the southwest area of Sichuan Basin with Chengdu Plain to its north; the complicated topography descending down from the southwest to the northeast featuring as hills, mountains and alluvial lan Tas.
Leshan is close to the mountain region of the southwest and lies along the alluvial plains of a number of rivers which include the Min, Jinsha, Qingyi, and Yangzi.

Leshan Map

Leshan Map



Climate:
The climate is mild with winter temperatures rarely averaging 7¡ã C (45¡ã F) and summer temperatures averaging a humid 26¡ã C (79¡ã F).

Restaurant:
Between Leshan docks and the Jiazhou hotel are some good places to sample local specialties. There are a few family style restaurants around here serving tasty Sichuan style food. Especially popular with travelers is Yang's Restaurant on Baita Jie.

Leshan Economy:
Leshan is rich in forest and water energy resources. Mineral deposits include rock salt, bittern, limestone, and saltpeter. Machinery, power, salt chemicals, construction material, and food processing are the main industries of Leshan. Leshan is a major producer of salt and a lager hydropower base in the southwest of China. The Gongzui hydropower station on the Dadu River is a regional power grid. The chief farm products include rice, rape, oranges, tea, silkworm cocoons, and pigs.

Arrive:
Road transportation facility of Leshan is good. The Chengkun railway line runs through Leshan. Ferries can sail from Leshan to Yibin by the Min River.

Leshan Tourism:
Visitors to Leshan are usually seeking some of the sites of Buddhist pilgrimages and great natural beauty which are found nearby including: Leshan's Giant Buddha, Emei Shan, the Sansu Hall of Northern Song dynasty, etc

Cuisine:
Food in Leshan is generally the Sichuan food which is spicy and very hot.

Leshan Attractive points:
Mt. Emeishan
Mt.Emei lies in the southern area of Sichuan basin in China. Mt. Emei is one of the four sacred Buddhist Mountains in China. It is said that Mt. Emei derived its name from two peaks which face each other and look like eyebrows. The whole mountain range extends over 200 kilometers in length and breadth. Ever since the introduction of Buddhism into China in the 1st century AD, Buddhist buildings have been built on the mountain. Now there are more than one hundred temples and monasteries. It is known as the place of Buddhist Rites of Puxian.
Mt. Emei is rich in natural and cultural heritage and carries several monikers: "Kingdom of Plants"," Paradise of Animals"," Geological Museum", "Buddhist Celestial Mountain" and is particularly famous for the title, " Elegance of Mt.Emei Under The Sun". The 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, Leiyin Temple and many other spots. In 1996, Mt. Emei and the Grand Buddha in Leshan were included in the List of the World Famous Cultural Relics.
One passes through four seasons in a day in the 5 kilometers from the base to the summit. The hike takes most people a full day up and a full day back down; the monasteries along the way and at the top offer overnight accommodations for travelers at reasonable prices. As you make your way up, expect to encounter plenty of pilgrims trudging their way steadily upward. The stamina of some of the older pilgrims is sure to surprise you. The monkeys aren't really dangerous, but it's probably better to appease them.
Mt.Emei is one of the most attractive tourist attractions. It lies 150 kilometers away from Chengdu, 130 kilometers from the Shuangliu International Airport and only 28 kilometers from Leshan city.
Baoguo Monastery
Baoguo Monastery is the biggest monastery as well as the gate at the base of the mountain. This monastery was built in the 16th century, enlarged in the 17th century, and rebuilt in recent years. There are three treasures in this monastery: one is a 3.5-meter porcelain Buddha, the other is 7-meter 14-storied cupreous tower and another one is 2.3-meter great cupreous bell weighing 25 tons. To the left of the gate is a rockery for potted miniature trees and rare plants.
Wannian Monastery
The Wannian Monastery is the largest of the eight monasteries to be found on Mount Emei. It is dedicated to Bodhisattva Puxian who famous for his preaching. The monastery is where the majority of tourists will start out on their climb of Mount Emei while others will pay a visit on completing their tour of the mountain.
The monastery was built originally during the Jin Dynasty (265-420) and was known as the Puxian Temple. It became known as the Baishui Temple during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and was renamed Baishui Puxian Temple in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). In the 29th year of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) the name was changed to Wannian Monastery in honor of the queen mother's birthday and has remained so ever since.
The buildings have been severely damaged on a number of occasions over the centuries and the Brick Hall (built in 1601) is the only one to remain in its original form. This Hall is in the Indian architectural style. The domed ceiling over the quadrate body of the hall reflects the ancient concept of heaven being round while the earth is square. The entire hall is constructed from brick and stone without the use of any form of girders. Inside there is a magnificent bronze statue of Bodhisattva Puxian mounted on a white elephant. Despite several fires and earthquakes, the hall and the 62-ton statue have survived and are in a very good state of preservation. Together they are a wonderful reminder of the skills and artistry that for so many centuries has been a feature of China and its long established civilization.
Autumn adds its own spectacle at the Wannian Monastery as the red leaves on the trees are reflected in the pond. The breeze causes red ripples to run over the water as it glistens in the sunlight. So enthralling! Clap your hands and you may then hear the sound of the frogs, which is said to emulate an ancient zither. Yet another magical touch to your wonderful tour.
Qingyin Pavilion
Qingyin Pavilion, also called Woyun Temple, is located at the junction of Heilong and Bailong Streams. It is one of the famous spots on Mount Emei about 710 meters or 2,367 feet above sea level and 15 kilometres from Baoguo Monastery. Nearby the pavilion is a huge "cattle-heart" shaped rock, hence the name "Cattle Heart Stone". Underneath the stone is a "Double Flying Kiosk" around which lie two bridges on both sides. The two bridges seem to look like the wings of the kiosk, so it was named "Double Flying Bridges". The cascading waters of the two streams under the bridges impinges against the "Cattle Heart Stone" and splashes on all directions like broken pieces of crystal pearls and jade which also emits the sweetest and purest sound of nature. Visitors would really appreciate the beautiful scenery and would bring great joy hearing nature's music!
From the Qingyin Pavilion, it is very convenient going to Wannian Monastery and other attractions. In addition, it is an excellent place for enjoying the night sky. If you don't want to miss it, there are some farmhouses beside the temples for your choice.
Golden Summit
Golden Summit is an absolutely necessary spot to visit on your Mount Emei tour. It earned the name "Golden Summit", because the roof of the original temple was coated with bronze. The site is a prime tourist attraction, many of whom come to see four marvelous spectacles: sunrise, sea of clouds, Buddha's Aureole and Divine Lights.
Rise with the lark in order to watch the sun rise gradually, and enjoy the split second when it jumps out from below the horizon. The best time for watching this is about 5:00-6:00 am. The Sea of Clouds is also wonderful. If the weather permits, you can clearly observe the different movements of these lovely clouds. Sometimes they form into a soft "cloud blanket", sometimes "cloud billows", "clouds peaks"; or a cotton-like "cloud regiment". It seems that they must have a life of their own and want to play games with us. The supernatural Buddha's Aureole occurs when sunlight diffracts onto the clouds. After a snow or rain, you will find your shadow covered with a colorful aureole moving with you. At night you will notice millions of dot-like tiny lights twinkling and wavering, as if you were placed in the Milky Way. The source of these "Divine Lights" is still unknown - are they from a firefly, wildfire or something else?
Climbing and getting up early can be really sweaty work, but when you experience these rare wonders in the world you can't help marveling at them and feeling they are worth the effort.
Leshan Giant Buddha
Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone sculpture of Buddha in the world, sits at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. According to records, the carving of this giant Buddha was begun in the in the first year of the reign of the Tang Emperor Tang Xuanzong (713 AD), and completed in the 19th year of Emperor Dezong (803 AD), a total of 90 years.
Taking the shape of a Maitreya [see note below] he is depicted barefooted with drooping ears and has his hair arranged in a spiral topknot. His chest is exposed and his hands rest on his knees. Carved from the side of the Lingyun Hill, with his head level with the cliff top, the gigantic stone sculpture faces Mt. Emeishan, with the rivers flowing below his feet.
Looking dignified and solemn, the Buddha measures 71 meters in height. 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 accommodate 100 people. The toe is large enough to accommodate a dinner table. Taller by 17 meters than the standing Buddha in Afghanistan, Leshan Giant Buddha is therefore the tallest Buddha in the world and in 1996, it was added to the World Natural and Cultural Heritage List.
Some parameters related to the Buddha:
Total Height: 71 meters (about 233 feet)
Head: 14.7 meters long (about 48 feet)
Shoulder: 28 meters wide (about 92 feet)
Neck: 3 meters long (about 10 feet)
Ear: 7 meters long (about 23 feet)
Nose: 5.6 meters long (about 18 feet)
Eyebrow: 5.6 meters long (about 18 feet)
Eye: 3.3 meters long (about 11 feet)
Month: 3.3 meters (about 11 feet)
Middle Finger: 8.3 meters (about 27 feet)
Derivation of the Giant Buddha
According to historical records, Leshan Giant Buddha was hewn during the prosperous Tang Period (618 - 907).
It was said there was a river monster that lived at this spot. He often caused floods that capsized passing boats and took cost many lives. In order to subdue the waters and save lives, Master Haitong, a Buddhist abbot of the Lingyun Monastery, raised the necessary funds and commenced the construction of the Giant Buddha. He hoped that the presence of the Great Buddha would subdue the monster and so pacify the swift currents thereby protecting the boatmen who traversed the treacherous river.
Directed by Master Haitong, the construction work began in 713. However, on the first day of construction, an avaricious official had his eye on the money and tried to blackmail the abbot. Master Haitong defied him and said: You could gouge out my eyes but not touch the money donated to build the Buddha. The official flew into a rage and dared him to do it. Master Haitong gouged out his own eyes and presented them in a tray to the official. The man fled in awe and terror
Master Haitong died when the work was only half done. Zang Chou and Wei Gao, two of his disciples, continued the work. After 90 years ' effort, the Buddha was finally completed in 803. It is impossible to know how, without the aid of modern equipment, people in those ancient times managed to design and create such a grand statue!
Secrets of the Giant Buddha
a) Buddha's Coiled Bun of Hair
The head of the Leshan Buddha is covered with 1,021 buns of curly hair. Seen from afar, they seem to be a whole while in fact they are made of rocks and each of which is large enough to support a big round table.
b) Broken Stele in the Chest of the Buddha
According to the experts involved in the maintenance in 1962, there is a cave in the chest of the Buddha. On entering the cave they found scrap iron and bricks. The stele covering the entrance of the cave dates from the Song Dynasty. The reason for this stele in the chest of the Buddha remains a mystery.
c) Drainage System over the Body
Leshan statue is a work of art as well a work of creativity. If you look carefully you may find an internal drainage system was incorporated into the sculpture that is still in working order. Drainage pipes were carved in various places on the body, to carry away the water after the rains so as to reduce weathering.
Maintenance and Protection of the Giant Buddha
Leshan Giant Buddha is as famous as the standing Buddha of Bamiyan in Afghanistan and they are regarded as part of the cultural heritage of mankind. Unfortunately, the recently deposed Taliban regime in Afghanistan had ordered the destruction of the Bamiyan monument. Thankfully, the new regime has pledged to restore it. Protection of the Leshan Buddha has become an even more important task as it is now unique as the only example of the ancient craft in its original form.
When the Giant Buddha was carved, a huge 13 storey wooden structure was built to shelter it from rain and sunshine. The structure was later destroyed in wars at the end of the Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368). From then on, the stone statue has been exposed to the wind and rain.
Though it was designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, over the past 1,000 years, erosion did become a major threat to the statue. Strong winds, heavy rains, acid rain and visitors have left their mark. The stone coils of hair on the head of the statue have fallen down, the nose has turned black and the face has become speckled. Also, plants and fungi have begun to grow from the upper part of the body, while litter has been thrown over his face, neck, shoulders, breast and feet. Not least, water from the three rivers that converge before the stone statue have eroded the lotus foundation underneath the Buddha's giant feet. Today, over 30 holes have been discovered in the foundations.
The protection and maintenance of this ancient treasure have proved to be a concern down the ages. It is clear that many repairs have been made over the years but mostly on a small scale and probably by individuals. Since the foundation of the PRC there has been a schedule for repair work on a ten year cycle. Nevertheless, it has not been possible to completely resolve the problems caused by erosion.
The protection of the Leshan Buddha has drawn global attention. Experts have been dispatched by the UNESCO to investigate and oversee the protection work and the World Bank has offered US$ 8 million in interest-free loans for the work.
The municipal government of Leshan also promulgated a series of measures to maintain the Buddha. These include improving the macro-environment of the scenic area by controlling pollution and setting a time scale for the removal of industrial enterprises. The reduction of pollution of the Minjiang River and the investment of a large amount of money in the construction of a highway passing through the area is part of the program. Through the combined efforts of all those concerned in this enterprise important work upon the mountain, water, roads and gardens in the area has been completed. Consequently, the environment has been greatly improved.
On March 24, 2001, a large scale repair was launched by the government. It was the first maintenance since the Buddha had been added to the World Heritage List. The first stage concentrated on the treatment of the Buddha's head, shoulders, chest, and stomach. The repairs lasted for 36 days and cost over one million Yuan. The technicians mended the Buddha's coiled bun of hair, cleaned the face, cleared away trash and weeds from the body, removed an inappropriate cement coating, and repaired the damage with traditional materials. The second phase commenced on November 7, 2001, and is planned to be finished in August 2002. The second stage is focused on the improvement of the drainage system of the Buddha's body, protection against water concussion on the feet, and weatherproofing the whole statue.
As the mayor of Leshan City has said, "The Buddha statue, which represents the high sculpturing skill and standard of ancient China, will stand forever in Leshan City through concerted protective efforts from all Chinese people". While, we know, what Leshan Giant Buddha needs is not only the attention of all Chinese people, but also that of people from all over the world.
Taking the Giant Buddha as a base the attractions in the area also include the Lingyun Monastery, the Great Buddha Temple, the Dongpo Tower, Green Water Tower, Linbao Pagoda, Cave of Master Haitong, Jiuqu Plank Way, etc.
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