Leshan Giant Buddha

Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area

UNESCO World Heritage Site
Tourists viewing Leshan Giant Buddha from ship
Location	Sichuan, China
Part of	Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area
Criteria	Cultural and Natural: (iv)(vi)(x)
Reference	779
Inscription	1996 (20th Session)
Coordinates	29°32′41″N 103°46′24″E / 29.54472°N 103.77333°E / 29.54472; 103.77333
Location of Leshan Giant Buddha in Sichuan Show map of Sichuan Leshan Giant Buddha (China) Show map of China

The Leshan Giant Buddha (Chinese: 樂山大佛) is a 71-metre (233 ft) tall stone statue, built between 713 and 803 (during the Tang dynasty). It is carved out of a cliff face of Cretaceous red bed sandstones that lies at the confluence of the Min River and Dadu River in the southern part of Sichuan Province in China, near the city of Leshan.^[1] The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below its feet. It is the largest and tallest stone Buddha statue in the world^[2] and it is by far the tallest pre-modern statue in the world. It is over 4-kilometre (2.5 mi) from the Wuyou Temple.^[3]

The Mount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic Area, has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1996.