CN · Sichuan · 29.54°N 103.77°E

leshan giant buddha

A 71-metre Buddha carved into a riverside cliff. Take the boat for the full view.

Best time
Spring and autumn are the most comfortable. Avoid weekends and public holidays if you can, when the queue for the cliff staircase can take hours.
How long
Half a day to 1 day
Getting there
Fly from KL to Chengdu, about 4.5 hours. From Chengdu, the high-speed train to Leshan takes about an hour, then it's a bus or taxi of around 30 minutes to the scenic area.
Save postcard
CN · Sichuanleshan giant buddha29.54°N 103.77°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,A 71-metre Buddha carved into a riverside cliff. Take the boat for the full view.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingLeshan Giant BuddhaCN, Sichuan
KLleshan giant buddha
≈ 2,944 km from KL, as the crow flies
36275-Leshan

Photo: xiquinhosilva · CC BY 2.0

1 / 2

Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

A 71-metre stone Buddha carved into a sandstone cliff where rivers meet, near the city of Leshan in southern Sichuan. Carved over about 90 years during the Tang dynasty, it's the tallest stone Buddha in the world. It's an easy day trip from Chengdu and pairs well with Mount Emei.

Makan

  1. Bobo jiSkewers soaked in a cold, spicy sesame and chilli sauce, a Leshan speciality.Map ↗
  2. Qiaojiao beefA hearty soup of beef and offal, another Leshan classic.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. The cliff staircaseWalk down the steep, narrow stairs cut beside the Buddha to stand at its feet.Map ↗
  2. The boat rideA short trip on the river for the full front view, including the guardian figures carved beside it.Map ↗
  3. Lingyun TempleThe temple at the top of the cliff, right beside the Buddha's head.Map ↗
  4. Mount EmeiOne of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains, a short train ride away, with temples and a golden summit.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Go early. The queue for the cliff staircase builds quickly.
  • The monkeys on Mount Emei can be aggressive. Keep food out of sight and don't feed them.
  • Dress modestly and keep voices down at the temples.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.