Leshan Giant Buddha「乐山大佛」

Review

On this trip to Sichuan, I finally had the chance to check off the Leshan Giant Buddha I’d been longing to see.

The original construction of the Leshan Giant Buddha was indeed related to the flooding at the confluence of the Min River, Dadu River, and Qingyi River. Ancient people hoped to use Buddha’s power to bless boats and ensure safety, though this naturally carried some religious belief. But it’s said that during construction, a large amount of excavated stone was thrown into the river, which to some extent changed the current, so the water conditions in this area did improve afterward. If you’re interested in the specific history, you can look up more information yourself.

This trip to Sichuan we already climbed too many mountains and I really didn’t want to climb any more, so for the Leshan Giant Buddha we decisively chose to visit by boat.

We took a sightseeing boat from Wuyou Wharf; the ticket was 70 yuan per person. After buying tickets, there was still a stretch of walking to the actual boarding point, about 20 minutes on foot. Although there was a shuttle bus, you still had to wait, so we just walked over.

After arriving, because there were a lot of visitors, we queued for another 20 minutes or so before boarding. We put on life jackets and set off. The boat actually moved quickly, and in about ten minutes we reached the river surface in front of the Leshan Giant Buddha.

The moment I truly saw the Giant Buddha from the river, it was still quite shocking.

I’d seen it many times in photos and videos, but actually standing on the boat and looking up at it felt completely different. The entire Giant Buddha is carved into the mountainside; the mountain is a Buddha, and the Buddha is also a mountain. People standing in front of it really seem tiny.

The cruise boat stays on the river in front of the Giant Buddha for a while, so you can take relatively complete photos of the full statue. We also spent 20 yuan on a group photo as a keepsake from this Leshan trip.

If it’s your first time in Leshan, I’d really recommend seeing the Giant Buddha by boat. Especially if you don’t want to climb, are traveling with elderly or kids, or like us are already tired from climbing mountains throughout Sichuan, taking the boat is relatively easy, and the full view of the Giant Buddha from the river is genuinely stunning.

A place like the Leshan Giant Buddha, I think, is no longer just about ‘seeing a tourist attraction.’ Standing in front of it and seeing the enormous Buddha carved into the mountain by ancient people over a thousand years ago, the combined impact of history, religion, and engineering is worth experiencing in person at least once.

Friends who haven’t been here, if you get the chance, really should come see it.

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Visit details

• Address: No. 2435 Lingyun Road（凌云路2435号）
• Rating: 4 / 5
• Published: September 2, 2026
• Original record: View this review on Dianping

Photos