Mount Emei, including Leshan Giant Buddha
Emei Shan and Leshan are located in China’s Sichuan Province. The two nominated areas are separated from each other by about 4Okm. Emei Shan is a sacred Buddhist site and is known for its high floral diversity. The Giant Buddha of Leshan measures 71 m high overall, which makes it the largest statue of the Buddha in the world. The areas were admitted the World Heritage List as a mixed site, designated for both cultural and natural reasons.
Emei is the most outstanding Buddhist mountain in China. It joins the other famous Chinese mountains on the List:
Taishan,
Huangshan and
Lushan. Emei became a sacred Buddhist site following the sixth-century visit of Bodhisattva Puxian and his six-tusked elephant. Here Buddhism first became established on Chinese territory and from where it spread widely throughout the east.
Covering Emei Shan is a sub-tropical forest with many endemic and endangered plants. They include orchids, primulas, rhododendrons, camellias, ginkgos, cycads and tree ferns. The mountain is frequently covered in dense cloud, with associated high rainfall and humidity.
Construction of the Giant Buddha (Dafo) of Leshan started in 713 AD, when the monk Haitong came up with an idea to curb the rough waters below the sandstone cliffs of Lingyun Shan. He wanted to fill in the shoals with rubble produced by carving out a giant Buddha image. It took 90 years to finish this project.
Visit September 2007
 |
During early September I stayed for three days in the Emei/Leshan area. Those days were easy to fill because there’s a lot to see and do here. The iconic sight of the Giant Buddha for example. I arrived at 8.45 in the morning, and had the place virtually to myself. The bus had dropped me at Dafo's head, and from there you can climb down his body until you arrive at his feet. The way he sits and looks out over the river makes him look like a gentle giant watching over the world.
My first two days I spent around Mount Emei. I started with visiting Fuhu Si (Crouching Tiger Temple), today a nunnery. It dates from the 12th century. Its major assets are its location (up against the mountain in dense vegetation) and its great garden complex that is very well taken care of.
And oh yes, I did use the cable cars. One of them to be exact - there are two on this mountain!. At the inscription of this site the Advisory Bodies to Unesco were very worried about the cable car 'which leads to the Golden Summit of the mountain and brings some 300,000 people a year to the sensitive montane forest zone.’ I took the lower cable car to Wannian Temple, a lively and colourful one with the statue of Puxian and his six-tusked elephant. From there I hiked down to the foot of the mountain at Baoguo Si in about 5 hours. I passed the Qingyin Pavilion (nicknamed The Mountain Garden for its greenery) and some minor temples. I walked and walked the stone steps, up and down and up again. I met the occasional monk, looked at the fungi and medicinal herbs that were for sale by old women, almost took a wrong turn or two but safely made it back. Emei Shan and its surroundings are surely worth a couple of days of anyone's itinerary.
More photos can be found in the Picture Gallery
Reviews
Robert Peters (USA):
Mount Emei was a great experience. For a beginner it could be a difficult climb. Even though there are steps all the way to the top, there are thousands of them! It can be tackled in one long day. Be prepared to gawk at Chinese guys carrying stretchers with tourists in them running up and down the mountain while chain smoking! The monkeys on the mountain are enjoyable and the view from the top of the sunrise over the cloud sea is great. The Buddha in Leshan is great, but very touristy, with people posing and pretending to stick their finger in the Buddha's ear (Like the leaning tower support shots). The stairs going down the side of the cliff near the Buddha can become impassable. |
| Date posted: February 2006 |
Rob Wilson (UK):
I visited the Daifo Buddha this summer during a month long trip to China. It is, without a shadow of doubt, an awesome sight. The Buddha looms out of the rock face surveying all in his kingdom.
The entry fees are resonably for a site such as this but, the experience is marred by the fact that the whole site is a tourist trap of the highest order. It is jam-packed with Chinese package tourists.
You won't have a moment's personal contemplation! |
| |
Have you been to Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area? Share your experiences!
Add your own review
