Tourism in China (Sichuan Province) - Leshan Giant Buddha

Leshan Giant Buddha is a national 5A tourist attraction, located at No. 2435 Lingyun Road, Shizhong District, Leshan City, Sichuan Province. It is situated on the rock face of Qixia Peak of Lingyun Mountain, at the confluence of the Minjiang, Qingyi, and Dadu Rivers. Below is a detailed introduction to the Leshan Giant Buddha tourist site:
Key Attractions:
1.Leshan Giant Buddha: Also known as Lingyun Buddha, it stands 71 meters tall and was carved during the Tang Dynasty. It took three generations of craftsmen 90 years to complete, making it the largest stone Buddha statue in China. The statue depicts Maitreya Buddha in a seated posture, exuding majesty and solemnity, a testament to the incredible craftsmanship of ancient times.


2.Lingyun Temple: A Buddhist sacred site, the temple consists of a triple courtyard structure including the Heavenly King Hall, Mahavira Hall, and Sutra Collection Pavilion. The temple is bustling with visitors and devotees, surrounded by lush greenery, trees, and potted plants. It's an ideal place to experience Buddhist culture.


3.Wuyou Mountain: Another part of the scenic area with additional spots worth visiting.


4.Giant Reclining Buddha: Formed by the alignment of Wuyou Mountain, Lingyun Mountain, and Guicheng Mountain, it stretches over 1,300 meters in a straight line. From a distance, it resembles a massive reclining Buddha, which is a truly awe-inspiring sight.


Getting There:
By Plane: Fly to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport or Tianfu International Airport in Sichuan, then travel to the Leshan Giant Buddha using other transport. From Chengdu airport, you can take the airport shuttle bus or high-speed train to Leshan.
oAirport Shuttle Bus: Direct buses from the airport to Leshan. For specific schedules, inquire at the airport.
oHigh-Speed Train: From the airport, head to Chengdu East Station or Chengdu South Station, then take a high-speed train to Leshan Station. There are frequent train services for convenience.
Other Transport Options:
oBy Car:
Fastest Route: From Chengdu (via G5 Jingkun Expressway, Chengle Expressway) to the Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area (approx. 153 km, taking about 2.3 hours), highway tolls are around 60 RMB.
Economical Route: From Chengdu (via G5 Jingkun Expressway, Chengle Expressway) to Leshan (approx. 157 km, about 2 hours), exit at Jiajiang and proceed to Leshan City before reaching the scenic area. Highway tolls are around 40 RMB.
Additional Route: From Chengdu (via G5 Jingkun Expressway, Chengle Expressway) to Leshan South Station, and then to Leshan City and the scenic area (approx. 156 km, about 2 hours). Tolls are around 52 RMB.
oBy High-Speed Train: Take a high-speed train from Chengdu East Station to Leshan Station. Upon arrival, you can take local buses such as Route 302, K1, or 601 to the scenic area.
oBy Bus: Within Leshan City, take bus Route 13 to Dafu Temple Station, which is near the entrance.
Boat Ride:
1.Ferries from Leshan Port are available to reach the Buddha.
2.Scenic boats can also be boarded at the dock within the area to view the Giant Buddha from the river, with a ride lasting about 15 minutes. Since there is no dock for the boats to anchor, visitors can only view the statue from the boat. Tickets cost 70 RMB per person (children under 1.2 meters need to get a free ticket from the ticket office). Departure times are adjusted based on water levels and weather conditions.
Ticket Prices:
1.Mountain Admission: Adult ticket - 80 RMB/person; Half-price ticket - 40 RMB/person.
2.Night Tour of Three Rivers: Dry season full-price ticket - 138 RMB/person; Flood season full-price ticket - 228 RMB/person (includes night river cruise and complimentary sightseeing shuttle service).
3.Upgraded Night Tour of Lingyun Mountain: The original adult ticket price is 160 RMB/person, but the current promotional price is 138 RMB/person in low season and 158 RMB/person in peak season.
4.Danqing Mountain and River Tour Line: The original full-price ticket is 388 RMB/person, now offered at 228 RMB/person in low season and 268 RMB/person in peak season.
Nearby Snacks:
Leshan offers a variety of delicious foods not to be missed. Notable delicacies include:
Sweet-skinned duck: Crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, sweet but not greasy.
Bobo Chicken: Served with various flavors such as spicy and peppercorn.
Qiaojiao beef: Tender beef with flavorful soup. Other local treats include tofu pudding, crispy pancakes, and ice powder. These can be found at restaurants or food streets near the Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area or in Leshan City.
Travel Suggestions:
1.You can either climb the mountain to observe the Buddha up close or take a boat to view the entire statue.
2.The Leshan Giant Buddha scenic area is large, so it’s recommended to allocate sufficient time for the visit, approximately 1-3 hours.
3.Visitors with health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, or coronary heart disease, as well as elderly visitors, should be accompanied by family members to avoid any accidents.
For Foreign Tourists:
As approved by the State Council, since December 1, 2019, Leshan has implemented a 144-hour visa-free transit policy for citizens from certain countries. Travelers from 53 countries holding valid international travel documents and confirmed onward tickets to a third country (region) within 144 hours can enter visa-free via Chengdu airports and stay in Leshan for up to 144 hours. The 144-hour stay starts from 00:00 the day after entry.
Eligible visitors can stay in Chengdu, Leshan, Deyang, Suining, Meishan, Ya’an, Ziyang, Neijiang, Zigong, Luzhou, and Yibin, but they must depart from Chengdu Airport and fly to a third country or region, ensuring the departure and destination are different.
Countries eligible for the 144-hour visa-free transit policy: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, Russia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Cyprus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Albania, Belarus, United States, Canada, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Chile, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Brunei, United Arab Emirates, Qatar.
Policies may change, so it's advisable to check the official Leshan Giant Buddha website or other official sources for the latest information before traveling.