Dazu Rock Carvings

1. It takes more than an hour to drive from Chongqing city to the scenic spot. After getting off the highway, there are many places to eat along the way, but most of them are fish-related. The taste of the one I ate was very average.

2. Jingshan is divided into two parts (Baoding Mountain and the north). Baoding Mountain's adult ticket is 114 yuan, while the northern attraction, which I've forgotten its name, costs 144 yuan. They're over ten kilometers apart. The scenic area is quite large, and the stone carvings can be walked through in just ten minutes. It's recommended to hire a guide, otherwise you might not understand their meaning. It's very educational for children. I ordered a guide for 150 yuan, which might be a bit expensive.

3. There is an old lady tied with a red rope in the parking lot of the scenic area. She will say nice words to you along the way. How much she gives depends on your mood.

4. Because it is a Buddhist landscape, there are few photos. There is a toilet on the left side when you enter the ticket gate. You can solve it in advance to avoid embarrassment.

I particularly enjoy visiting on my own during weekdays, wandering back and forth, carefully appreciating each sculpture. The entire Baodingshan Stone Carving Scenic Area, in addition to the Stone Carving Museum, is also truly remarkable. Starting from the top floor, a chronological overview of Buddhist stone carvings from around the world is presented, followed by individual sculptures from Dazu, mostly from the Song Dynasty. The entire exhibition hall is rich in content and provides excellent reference material for more detailed research. The Baodingshan Stone Carvings are well-received, and the carvings are exquisite, so I won't dwell on them in detail. I'd like to mention the Beishan Stone Carvings. The Beishan Stone Carvings are relatively small and less popular, so I wouldn't recommend them to most people. However, I personally find them to have some surprising features, such as the impressive "Charming Guanyin," which is presented in a new and exciting form. Furthermore, both the Beishan and Baodingshan Stone Carvings feature the Amitābha Sutra, each with its own unique strengths. So, it's worth comparing them separately.

I can't describe my shock in words. I really regret not having been there when I was in college. People who go to school in Chongqing will think that Dazu Rock Carvings are too far away and don't want to go. But it really lives up to its name as a world heritage site. It is very convenient to take the bus from Caiyuanba or Longtou Temple Station. A round trip in a day is completely possible. The ticket is 30 or 40 yuan. You can hire an interpreter in a group. There are free interpretations in the scenic area, but you have to queue up and you can hardly get one. Or you can download a Dazu Rock Carving interpretation app and listen to the interpretation for 10 yuan with Alipay. You can buy a combined ticket for Baodingshan Rock Carvings and Beishan Rock Carvings for 55 yuan in the off-season. We went there on January 3rd. Don't take a car to enter the gate of Baodingshan Stone Carvings. It's a 15-minute walk. The viewing area is a 400-meter U-shaped valley, but it's really the essence. Each stone carving has a theme story, starting with Liu Benzun. The conception is exquisite and the carving is beautiful. Our country also has stone sculptures like those from the Renaissance, such as the Hell Transformation, the Flute-Playing Girl, the Chicken-Raising Girl, the Paradise, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, the Peacock King, the Nine Dragons Bathing the Prince, and the Three Saints of Huayan with the Reclining Buddha Holding the Pagoda. The pagodas in their hands weigh thousands of pounds. How did the stone carving artists manage to keep them standing for thousands of years? There are also the Six Paths of Reincarnation and the stone carvings written by Yan Zhenqing. Baoding Mountain is really beautiful. After the appointment, there is a temple. There is a local street nearby where you can stroll around and buy some food. The bus is very close to the food stalls. After going down the mountain and directly to Dazu Bus Station, you can take a Didi for 7 yuan to go to Beishan Stone Carvings. Beishan Stone Carvings are basically weathered and cannot be compared with Baoding Mountain. It is a level down. After watching it for half an hour, you can leave. You can walk directly down the mountain to the bus station in 20 minutes. It seems that there is some delicious fish in the local area, but I didn’t eat it. It’s a pity.

I've been there twice. Dazu Rock Carvings are a must-see when visiting Chongqing, even though they're a bit far from the city. China is said to have four major grottoes, and the Dazu Rock Carvings rival them in religious significance and artistic value, and are perhaps even better preserved. Baoding is a large, well-planned grotto with rare Tantric themes, including the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, a masterpiece of Chinese rock carving. Beishan has several exquisite caves, while Nanshan is less visited but boasts rare Taoist grottoes. I didn't visit the two more distant sites.

As a World Heritage site, the Dazu Rock Carvings are well worth seeing, representing the pinnacle of stone carving art from the Tang and Song dynasties. They are remarkably well-preserved, revealing numerous stories and connections, which perhaps makes them more accessible to the average visitor. Baoding and Beishan are recommended for the Dazu Rock Carvings, as they offer a wider range of details. It's best to plan a day trip from Chongqing. Buses from Chongqing to Dazu are quite convenient, and from there, you can take either the bus or a taxi. Of course, the bus requires more time, so taxis are faster if you can find a carpool.

It is exquisite and I personally think it is the fifth cave after Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes and Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. It shows the superb carving skills of the ancients, especially the Thousand-armed Guanyin, which is unique in China.

It is exquisite and I personally think it is the fifth cave after Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes and Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. It shows the superb carving skills of the ancients, especially the Thousand-armed Guanyin, which is unique in China.

Dazu Rock Carvings is a general term for the rock carvings (grottoes) with Buddhist themes in Dazu District, Chongqing. It includes Baoding Mountain, Beishan Mountain, Nanshan Mountain, Shimen Mountain, Shizhuan Mountain, etc. Here you can appreciate the well-preserved stone carving art from the Tang and Song dynasties.

The Baodingshan and Beishan stone carvings are the most concentrated and famous of the stone carvings. Tickets are sold separately for the Baodingshan and Beishan stone carvings, but combined tickets are also available. The two sites are over a dozen kilometers apart. The remaining three scenic spots in the stone carving complex are either more remote or not yet open to the public.

"Dunhuang in the north, Dazu in the south": The Dazu Rock Carvings represent the culmination of my country's grotto art, elevating it to a new peak. Primarily Buddhist, they also feature Confucian and Taoist sculptures. Artistically, they embody the "humanization of deities" characteristic of late Chinese Buddhist sculpture. On December 1, 1999, UNESCO officially designated the five cliff carvings at Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shizhuanshan, and Shimenshan as World Cultural Heritage.

Combined ticket (Baoding Mountain and Beishan Mountain) 140 yuan, electric car 15 yuan, reference time 3 hours

The entire park has a stone carving viewing area, a stone carving museum, Shengshou Temple, and Guangda Temple. Since we arrived late in the afternoon, we did not go to Guangda Temple, which was a bit regretful.

After entering the door, there is a battery car that costs 15 yuan for a round trip, which will take you directly to the stone carving viewing area. The whole area is not large. You can listen to the WeChat explanation (10 yuan), or you can ask for an explanation, which should be 150 yuan. It is still recommended to pay for the explanation, which will make you feel more involved.

After visiting the stone carving area, follow the road to Shengshou Temple. When you come out, you can take an electric car to the museum. There is a road next to the museum that leads to Guangda Temple. I don’t know if the electric car can reach there.

A thorough visit to the whole place takes half a day, so if you are interested, you should reserve enough time.

The guided tours are 120 to 150 yuan per person, and the guided tours are provided with earphones, ensuring a clear and enjoyable visit. The most striking carvings are the "Human Life," "Thousand-armed Guanyin," "Yuanjue Cave," and "Pasturing Cattle." The Thousand-armed Guanyin, in particular, holds exceptional artistic value. It is China's largest cliff-carved statue combining carving, painting, and gilding, and is the only authentic Thousand-armed Guanyin in the country.

The most worthwhile things to see here are the moments, and the most worthwhile things to hear are the stories, history, culture, and Buddhism. I highly recommend watching the story of the shepherd boy taming the cow. After hearing it, all the unpleasant things in my work and life faded away. It's best to visit on a clear day; rainy days are too slippery and unsafe. Take the sightseeing bus up the mountain and walk down. Buy a package ticket, come once, and you might not come again, so don't regret it. The most important thing to ignore is the staff; even the monks and nuns act like they're descended from poor peasants. They'll scold you and get upset if you don't spend enough, but why bother? But since we're out having fun, let's keep a positive attitude and forget about it.

Dunhuang in the north and Dazu in the south, highly recommended for those interested in history and culture

The essence of stone carvings, the characters are lifelike and the stories are rich in content.

I was tricked into riding the Crown Escalator by someone who'd been to Chongqing. Then, I stopped by Chongqing Bus Station to check out how to get to Dazu. I imagined what it would be like to see the mud and stone carved by artisans hundreds of years ago. After a detailed online review, I felt there were some highlights, but not much. On second thought, I decided not to spend 5-6 hours on a bus just to admire a few benevolent Buddha statues. (Because even if I forced myself to, I couldn't muster the interest. I'm probably the type of person who wouldn't listen to the free explanations, and I really don't understand Buddhism. 😂) The reviews on Honeycomb were a long time ago, so let me provide some transportation information for those who want to go. Take the subway to Lianglukou, then take the Crown Escalator down to Chongqing Bus Station... and then see the pictures.

The museum has more surprises than the Big Buddha Bay, the tickets are a bit expensive, and the surrounding environment planning is not very good. It does not meet the 5A level identity

The large-scale, colorful and densely packed stone carvings tell many Buddhist and Taoist stories.

Amazing craftsmanship! Whether it is carving or color, it is so exquisite

The shock cannot be fully conveyed by photos. You should come if you have the chance. It is definitely worth seeing!

The ancient people's ingenious craftsmanship. It feels different from the natural landscape, but it is equally spectacular. It is recommended to find a tour guide to explain, otherwise this kind of cultural landscape is not easy to understand.

Dazu Noodles

Unlike caves, as someone who comes from a Shikumen family, I'm drawn to grottoes. So, I've visited both the ones you've heard of and the ones I haven't. Dazu was the second grotto I visited on my grotto tour. Looking back, we arrived in Dazu after 3 p.m., which was the off-season in winter, and there weren't any crowds around. The massive stone carvings felt like a personal treat, custom-made for me.

Granted, hiring a guide can help you see more clearly, but believe me, unless you're just before the college entrance exam, when your memory is at its peak, everything you heard and felt will fade like the years carved into stone, leaving only your memory of the moment. I remember my feelings, but not the physical presence. Years later, when I visited the Yulin Grottoes and listened to a guide, I realized that what I had encountered on Baoding Mountain was a parallel to the six realms of reincarnation, alongside the Yulin Grottoes.

Dazu is a grotto belonging to the common people. No matter it is restored by later generations or is a gem left over from previous dynasties, it is colorful and close enough, just like a bowl of approachable Chongqing noodles, and I like eating noodles.

PS, they said I look like Sammul Chan in this photo.

The Buddhist cliff carvings present the core values of the Chinese nation, such as loyalty, filial piety, honesty, propriety, righteousness, and shame. You must listen to the guide's explanation to understand the content of the carvings. Otherwise, if you just glance at them, you will not understand the connotation of the expression.

Due to time constraints, we didn't visit the Beishan Rock Carvings. However, I heard the main section of the Dazu Rock Carvings is located on Baoding Mountain. This was a rare sight during the National Day holiday that wasn't crowded. Honestly, when I first saw the Dazu Rock Carvings, I was shocked to see how well-preserved all of the carvings were, exposed to the elements. After all, I've been to the Mogao Grottoes and seen their rigorous preservation measures, three layers upon three layers upon layers upon layers. But I was quite pleased to be able to observe the carvings up close and take photos without restraint, hahahaha. After all, at the Mogao Grottoes, it was so crowded and jostled, I couldn't really take a closer look or take photos, which was a shame. At the entrance to the Dazu Rock Carvings, you can scan the QR code on WeChat for a guided tour, or follow the official WeChat account "Dazu Rock Carvings." Personally, I don't think it's necessary to ask for a guided tour. (Just a quick aside, we listened to several guides, and they were pretty much the same as the ones on the official account, perhaps even less detailed due to time constraints.) Although the place to visit is really only one foot away from the stone carvings, the general quality is very high, and no one tries to reach out and touch it. Basically, each stone carving has a history and a story, so I won’t introduce them one by one. Anyway, you can find them in the official account. Wow! The Thousand-Armed Guanyin must be discussed in detail. Because,

It's truly breathtaking! It's no exaggeration to say it's the most impressive sculpture in the entire Dazu Rock Carvings! Resplendent in golden light, it's a true "Thousand-Armed" Guanyin, with a full 1,007 hands carved across an entire wall, each with an eye. It's hard to describe the awe I felt upon entering an unassuming room and seeing this massive stone sculpture. A feeling of reverence wells up within me. Zooming in, I'm even more captivated by the intricate craftsmanship, each holding a different object. The half-reclining Buddha statue depicting the Nirvana of Sakyamuni is also quite striking. I first fell in love with the Six Paths of Reincarnation diagram when I first saw a photo of it at the Dazu Rock Carvings Museum. It has a magical quality that makes you want to stare at it endlessly.

It's definitely worth the trip! It's definitely worth the trip! It's definitely worth the trip! A guided tour is a must! A guided tour is a must! It's a two-hour drive from Chongqing, and the highway is easy to get to. It's a World Cultural Heritage site, well worth the visit. It offers culture, history, education, and a chance to learn about Buddhist teachings and history. Highly recommended!

The Dazu Rock Carvings are not only a 5A scenic spot, but more importantly, a World Cultural Heritage site. It's best to hire a guide to visit the Dazu Rock Carvings, and you can join a group tour. The guide's explanations will help you understand the meaning of the carvings. Our ancient people were truly talented. The carvings are ingeniously designed, profoundly meaningful, and exquisitely crafted... Breathtaking! They truly deserve to be a World Cultural Heritage site.

What is truly shocking is the Baoding Mountain Rock Carvings. Although I have seen many photos of the Dazu Rock Carvings before, and although I have been to the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the Longmen Grottoes, the Yungang Grottoes, and the Maijishan Grottoes, and although I think I have some knowledge of the art of grottoes and stone carvings, I was still shocked by the exquisiteness, beauty, and grandeur of Baoding Mountain. I don’t know how to describe it as I am not well-educated. If you have the chance, you should come and see it in person.

The Buddha sculptures here are colorful, and each one is lifelike. It is best to ask a tour guide to explain so that you can learn more about the stories behind them. The off-season combined ticket is 110 yuan, including the Baoding Mountain Scenic Area and the Beishan Scenic Area.

The Dazu Rock Carvings are actually not very famous. Although they are more famous than Dunhuang in the north and Dazu in the south, people still feel a little unfamiliar with the Dazu Rock Carvings. They think they may be similar to other less well-known rock carvings. After visiting Baoding Mountain, the impression has changed greatly.

The stone carvings in Dazu are even more exquisite than I imagined, especially the expressions of the characters, which can be described as lifelike. Unfortunately, some of the stone statues are under restoration and are not open to the public.

We spent too long in Dazu, a full three hours. The scenery in Dazu was so beautiful that I forgot about time and hunger.

The years have left the Dazu Rock Carvings with a face full of vicissitudes, and some parts are severely weathered. The stone statues have different expressions and are vivid and lifelike. It is a place worth visiting.

World Cultural Heritage! Well-deserved! Worth a visit!

This is a historical site and a national 5A scenic spot, which is definitely worth a visit. You can spend about 3-4 hours there.

The reclining Buddha is a must-see. Photos don't capture its power, but the experience itself is truly remarkable. Dunhuang in the north, Dazu in the south. This speaks volumes about the significance of the Dazu Rock Carvings. Since time is limited, I recommend visiting the Baoding Mountain Rock Carvings.

The ticket price has increased. There are only two types of combined tickets. There are still discounts with student ID cards.

In addition, you only need to buy a one-way electric car, which is 5 yuan for the outbound trip and 15 yuan for the round trip. However, there is bus No. 205 at the return exit, so you don’t have to go back to the entrance of the scenic area.

Here’s a tip for everyone: you can’t go back to visit the Dazu Rock Carvings. I wanted to come back and take more photos, but I didn’t make it back.

I saw the Baodingshan stone carvings, which were very beautiful. I read in travel guides that it is not recommended to go to Beishan, so I didn't go. So it is difficult to comment on it.

Dazu Rock Carvings are a cultural treasure, but they don’t seem to be very famous. I think it is the most important place to see when you come to Chongqing.

It would be better to have a guide to explain that there is a story behind each stone carving. We walked up the mountain to see the stone carvings.

Because it is a cultural attraction, we specially hired a tour guide. The explanation was very detailed and I felt the Buddhist culture. My friend kept talking about the Knee-Cut Hell and the cycle of cause and effect while drinking that night. It is still worth a visit. The tour guide spent about 2 hours explaining the whole way.

The 2 stars are for the Dazu Rock Carvings themselves. The rock carvings are great and worth seeing. The staff here are shameless and cheated me out of money. I have already complained to the National Tourism Administration.

The scenic area is a bit far, so I recommend joining a day tour. Since it is a cultural and Confucian Buddhist and Taoist painting, you really need a guide to explain it to understand the fun. Also because of the remote location, the stone carvings of Baoding Mountain are well preserved and really beautiful! They are comparable to the Dunhuang murals! The Beishan stone carvings have been severely damaged due to weathering and human destruction.

The Thousand-armed Guanyin in Dazu Rock Carvings looks magnificent and golden after several years of renovation.

You can go to the museum to watch the documentary about how the researchers restored it.

Dazu Rock Carvings is a general term for a group of rock carvings, including Baoding Mountain, Beishan Mountain, Nanshan Mountain, Shizhuan Mountain, and Shimen Mountain. Most of the Dazu Rock Carvings that people usually refer to are Baoding Mountain Rock Carvings. Dazu Rock Carvings are Buddhist-themed rock carvings, which are very exquisite and spectacular. Each carving has its own story, and is colorful, appearing very realistic, even lifelike. Especially the Buddha statues in the caves, not to mention their expressions, even the tassels of their clothes give the impression that they can be blown away by a gust of wind. The working people in ancient times were really skilled craftsmen. With just a pair of hands and a hammer, they were able to carve out so many lifelike and vivid faces on the mountain. Each carving has its own story... It really makes me feel very shocked, majestic, spectacular, and magical. This is truly a huge treasure of our mankind. We must carefully protect it, slowly appreciate it, and pass it down through the ages.

We arrived at Caiyuanba Chongqing Bus Station at 8:50 AM, but the next bus to Dazu Rock Carvings was at 9:50 AM, and the previous one was at 8:30 AM. We bought a 50-yuan bus ticket directly to the entrance of the scenic area. Actually, you still have to transfer to bus No. 205 after arriving in Dazu County, but the driver will drop you off at the bus. We arrived at Baoding Mountain around 1 PM. We only saw the Baoding Mountain carvings, which are very beautiful. I recommend hiring a guide for more interesting explanations. Back in Chongqing, we took bus No. 205 to the final stop, Dazu County Bus Station, and then took the bus back. Bus tickets can be purchased in advance; the last bus leaves around 6 PM.

When people refer to the Dazu Rock Carvings, they often refer to the Baoding Mountain carvings. These Buddhist carvings are incredibly exquisite and spectacular. Each carving tells its own story, and the vibrant colors create a lifelike, almost lifelike, effect. The Buddha statues in the caves are particularly striking, their expressions captivating, and even the tassels of their garments appear to be blown away by the wind.

We booked a one-day tour online and were advised not to visit the Beishan Rock Carvings, as they are small and not worth seeing. I won't go into the specific itinerary because I didn't remember much of the story or explanation after the tour.

According to the tour guide, the Dazu Rock Carvings were spontaneously carved by the people during the Song Dynasty, and therefore have a more secular orientation. In Dazu, the rock carvings aren't limited to Baoding Mountain; they can also be found in other areas, such as Beishan. However, these carvings are relatively well-preserved, so they tend to attract more tourists. Tour guides usually provide guides for group tours, offering live explanations. Many of these stories cover reincarnation and other Buddhist tales that are difficult to understand without listening. Of course, the guide can't cover every single one, so they usually focus on the most distinctive ones.

It's a bit far, so you must go early. There seems to be a bus at 10 o'clock. I took the 11:50 bus and brought some food. There are guided tours at the entrance of the scenic spot, 150 yuan, and you need to wear headphones. The museum is closed on Mondays. You can also find a one-day tour on China-TravelNote. It's convenient. The tour guide will explain it slowly. It's very different to see it by yourself and have a guide. There are many small stories to listen to. I don't recommend taking the sightseeing bus. There are many private cars on the way back, basically 10 yuan per person, to Dazu Bus Station, and then from Dazu Bus Station back to Chongqing. The earliest bus arrives at Longtou Bus Station at 18:30. There are very few buses, and the others go to another bus station. Go to the right after leaving the station, and there is a bus to the subway station.

Because it is related to Bodhisattva, I did not take any photos

There is a parking lot on the front and back hills.

Free admission for those aged 65 and above. Admission with ID card

Here I am going to complain again

Our navigation led us to the back mountain, where we walked through the old street after the fun.

The parking fee here is 20 yuan a day.

As soon as I got off the car, I was surrounded by a group of salespeople. It was so scary.

Probably the ones who collect parking fees, sell incense, and run restaurants in the old street.

I really recommend hiring a tour guide to explain it to you. Otherwise, just look at the stone carvings. If you don't know what they mean, you can ask them to explain it and learn more. It costs 150 yuan and each person will be given a headset. You can pay with Alipay or follow the app. There are free explanations. It depends on your personal preference.

After buying the tickets, I also invited a first-level tour guide to give the explanation. The level is 200 yuan for level 1, 170 yuan for level 2, and 150 yuan for level 3. Of course, there are many non-scenic area tour guides on the road who will solicit business, but I didn't ask the specific price.

The tour guide explained the stories behind each stone carving in great detail. After visiting the entire stone carving, I was filled with admiration and praise for the ancestors. I won't go into too much detail, but you can add this more cultural day trip to your Chongqing tour.

Buddhist holy land, every Buddha statue tells a story

Chinese stone carvings often originate in auspicious locations across China, serene and far from the bustling city. In those distant times, these remote wildernesses were considered desolate and desolate. The silent craftsmanship of faith, crafted upon the vast boulders, exemplifies the spirit of craftsmanship. After Buddhism was introduced to China, it was gradually assimilated into Chinese culture. This cultural integration has enabled this religion to flourish in China to this day. Through images of the Buddha and a series of historical figures, these carvings offer a glimpse into the clothing, attire, and lifestyles of the people of the time.

It is no less than the Buddhist stone carvings such as Mogao Grottoes. When I went there, I felt that it was well preserved.

The Dazu Rock Carvings are a must-see attraction in Chongqing. Along with the Longmen Grottoes in Henan, the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi, and the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, they are both World Cultural Heritage sites, each with its own distinct characteristics. Here, you can fully appreciate the artistic value of the carvings. I recommend joining a local guided tour that takes you to the Pingdingshan and Beishan Rock Carvings. The guides are very detailed, and a full day is plenty of time. Otherwise, traveling by car on your own will create significant distances between these two exquisite carvings.

I originally wanted to go by myself, but I felt that if I only looked at the ancient sites without any explanation, it would be just a cursory sightseeing. In the end, I decided to join a tour group. The one-day tour 218 I reported on China-TravelNote was indeed a pure play group without any shopping. I could accept that the tour guide sold local specialties on the bus. The attractions were very meaningful, and the tour guide's explanation was very good, which was icing on the cake. It was good.

I signed up for a one-day tour, which was ok, but there were too many people. But I still saw the stone carvings, which was good.

Take a bus from Tongliang South Bus Station to Dazu Central Station (16 yuan, about 2 hours), then transfer to bus No. 205 to the Dazu Rock Carvings Scenic Area (about 30-40 minutes). We went to the Baoding Mountain Scenic Area; I heard the Beishan area is similar but not as beautiful as Baoding Mountain. The ticket price is 109 yuan per person, and the tour lasts about an hour and a half.

WeChat has a voice guide, which is free, but it is recommended that if you go, you should find a tour guide to tell you the story. It costs 150 yuan and you can share it inside, just like carpooling. You know, listen to the historical origins of each painting or small story. It is really a waste of tickets if you don't hire a tour guide and just look at it, because you can't understand it at all. WeChat's voice broadcast is too general. Apart from using the word "lifelike" to describe the historical stories behind it, I don't know. When I went there, it was during the Spring Festival and many cars were closed to the front door. I went directly through the back door, went up from the exit to the museum and then to the entrance. It was a big circle.

I recommend joining a tour group; if you go on your own, you probably won't be able to return in a day. Off-season tours are very cost-effective, the lunch is quite generous, and the guides are very friendly. The Dazu Rock Carvings are very different from the grottoes in the Central Plains. They belong to the Tantric school, and the carvings are full of stories, so a tour is a great way to learn. The mountain air is also very fresh. If you prefer cultural tourism, this is a good choice.

Although there was some fog when we went up the mountain, it cleared up when we reached the stone carvings. The tour guide's explanation was very good, and the stone carvings shocked me. I have to admire the wisdom of the ancients! 👍

We went there on China-TravelNote. The guide's explanation was good, but it was a bit rushed. It was a pity that we didn't go to the Mogao Grottoes when we went to Dunhuang. The grottoes and murals are truly a great treasure of our country, a great treasure left to us by historians!

One of the largest grottoes/stone carvings in China, built in the Song Dynasty, a very shocking place

I like it very much, Dunhuang in the north and Dazu in the south... It is worth going. The sooner you see the cultural things, the better.

It is absolutely the best cliff carving in China, bar none, whether in terms of the number, form or connotation of the carvings. Even the last half-finished carving that was not completed due to the war provides great value for academic research.

I went there during the off-season, 55 yuan per person, not many people, cloudy day

suggestion:

1. To appreciate the stone carvings, it's best to hire a guide. You need a certain level of religious knowledge to appreciate them on your own. For those who want to listen for free, forget it; the guides wear headphones.

2. The battery car in the scenic area is not very useful, it's really not far. If you don't care about the 5 yuan, just ignore me.

3. Foreign tourists should note that the Dazu Rock Carvings in a narrow sense actually refer to the Baoding Mountain Rock Carvings, while in a broad sense they also include the Beishan, Nanshan, Shimenshan, and Shizhuanshan Rock Carvings.

Absolutely fascinating, the three wonders of Yuanjue Cave, the grandeur of Nirvana Cave, and the exquisiteness of Thousand-Armed Guanyin are not to be missed!

The Dazu Rock Carvings are as famous as the four major Chinese grottoes, namely the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the Yungang Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes and the Maijishan Grottoes, and are listed among the eight most famous grottoes in the world. There are five rock carving groups in total, namely Baoding Mountain, Beishan Mountain, Nanshan Mountain, Shizhuan Mountain and Shimen Mountain. However, when people talk about the Dazu Rock Carvings, they usually refer to the Baoding Mountain Rock Carvings, which are the largest and most complete. Among them, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin and the Six Paths of Reincarnation diagram, which are the gems that serve as the guardian of the mountain, are quite stunning.

The value of the Dazu Rock Carvings is unquestionable; the exquisiteness of the stone carvings and the Buddhist stories behind them perfectly demonstrate the combination of the ideas of Buddhism and the ruling class during the Tang and Song dynasties. This is both the preciousness of the Baodingshan Rock Carvings and the difference between them and the four major grottoes.

The ancient working people were truly skilled craftsmen. With just their hands and a hammer, they were able to carve so many lifelike and lifelike faces out of the mountains. Each carving has its own story... I was truly astonished, majestic, spectacular, and magical. This is truly a great treasure of our species, and we must carefully protect it, savor it, and pass it down through the ages.

Located in Dazu District, Chongqing, the Dazu Rock Carvings are religious cliff carvings dating back to the late Tang and early Song dynasties. They primarily feature Buddhist themes, alongside Confucian and Taoist sculptures, and are renowned artistic treasures.

Visitors to the Dazu Rock Carvings typically limit themselves to visiting Baoding Mountain. This truly is one of China's most beautiful cultural landscapes, nestled within a circular valley. A single cliff face, carved into a magnificent, painted scene according to the unfolding storyline, is unique in China. The carvings are exceptionally skillful and vivid, featuring popular sculptures such as the Chicken-Raising Girl, the Thousand-Armed Guanyin, the Three Sages of the Avatamsaka Sutra, and the Transformations of Hell. The site is protected from excessive conservation efforts and overcrowded with tourists, making it a truly immaculate scenic spot. The Thousand-Armed Guanyin, after more than a decade of restoration, has transformed its once dilapidated and eerie atmosphere into a dazzling display, making it the crowning jewel of Baoding Mountain. While the Beishan Rock Carvings lack the artistic conception and grandeur of Baoding Mountain, they are still well worth a visit.

The stone carvings here, alive and well in the wind and rain, rival those of the Mogao Grottoes! Unlike the artificially crafted wood sculptures and clay carvings, which rely on the spirit of the mountain to carve, they have withstood the wind, sun, rain, and fog for over a thousand years. The glorious Tang Dynasty civilization, though only two hundred years in the grand scheme of history, left innumerable treasures to the Chinese people, and this is just one example. Traces of the Song Dynasty's prosperity emerge before our eyes. Seeing such vibrant colors exposed to the outdoors, it's hard to imagine they've endured for 1,300 years! The lifelike stone statues evoke a tranquil Buddhist peace and the simple, peaceful atmosphere of life, while also offering a terrifying glimpse into the Eighteen Hells and the Six Paths of Reincarnation. On the cliff face, the glaring Vajra with a staff and the smiling bodhisattva with clasped hands, the Peacock King, watered by mountain springs, the reclining Buddha with closed eyes, and most striking of all, the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara, radiant with golden light! The legendary Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Avalokitesvara becomes a reality here, a thousand eyes born to observe the world's suffering, a thousand hands born to alleviate its suffering! Here, you can savor the art of stone carving, ancient painting techniques, and the vastness of Buddhist culture. Unconstrained by time constraints, fear of damaging the statue with your breath, and the oppression of cramped darkness, you can indulge in pious worship before the Buddha, questioning the Buddha from the heart, and revering this spiritual place, endowed with the spirit of the mountain and its existence by people, for spiritual purification! Imagine a great Buddha sitting by the Min River, watching over this place. Each Buddha is at peace amidst the mountains and waters of the southwest. One sits alone, observing the endless cycle of life, while a group tucked away in the mountains, surrounded by the vegetation. Can we emulate one of these figures? In this impetuous modern society, in an age when people have lost their faith, can we find a divine oracle here that can calm our souls?

As a Chongqing native, I've only been here once, when I was very young, and I have no memory of it. This revisit was a pleasant surprise. I've been to Yungang and Longmen before, and while the Dazu Rock Carvings aren't as large, the carvings are even more exquisite, with details that capture the spirit of wooden statues. The restored Thousand-Armed Guanyin is simply stunning and stunning. It's a shame the Sleeping Buddha is still under restoration, so I couldn't get a full photo. The tour guide explained the colors were added in the 1990s, but I personally think it looks better without them. The museum, which opened in 2015, has also elevated the scenic area to a higher level. The "One Grain of Sand, One World" holographic projection at the entrance is fantastic. I've heard the Beishan Rock Carvings and Shimen Mountain are also very beautiful, and I'd love to go back if I have the chance.

It's a truly remarkable feat. Back in the day, most stone carvings were in color. Deep in the mountains lies a treasure trove of humanity, one that we must carefully protect and appreciate. It's magnificent, spectacular, magical, and incredible.

The parking lot is actually quite a distance from the stone carving area. First, walk to the Lijing Bridge, then take the scenic electric car to the main entrance. When I visited in June, there was scaffolding in front of the stone carvings, indicating they were undergoing maintenance. The core area of the stone carvings isn't very large, so it's hard to tell just by looking at it. It's more interesting to listen to the explanations.

The Dazu Rock Carvings comprise over 70 sites, totaling over 100,000 statues. The most famous are the Baodingshan and Beishan cliff carvings, which primarily depict Buddhist statues and are exemplary of late Chinese cave sculpture. They rank alongside the four great grottoes of China: the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang, the Yungang Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes, and the Maijishan Grottoes, demonstrating the exceptional talent and artistic creativity of the ancient Han Chinese working people.

The statue of the Great Buddha is made of millions of gold and looks lifelike. Its features and beard are not wrong at all. It is believed that it is the work of ghosts.

The Dazu Rock Carvings are located in Dazu District, Chongqing, over 100 kilometers from Chongqing's main urban area. They feature over 50,000 religious stone carvings at 74 sites. These religious cliff carvings date back to the late Tang and early Song dynasties, primarily focusing on Buddhist themes, alongside Confucian and Taoist sculptures. The Beishan and Baodingshan cliff carvings are particularly renowned. They rank alongside the four great grottoes of China: the Mogao Grottoes at Dunhuang, the Yungang Grottoes, the Longmen Grottoes, and the Maijishan Grottoes. They embody the remarkable talent and artistic creativity of the ancient Han Chinese working people. In 1999, UNESCO officially designated the five Dazu Rock Carvings sites—Beishan, Baodingshan, Nanshan, Shizhuanshan, and Shimenshan—as World Cultural Heritage.