For the first time, the 71-meter tall Leshan Giant Buddha carved into the rock is fully revealed due to the low water level of the river.
Video: CCTV
Due to prolonged high temperatures and low rainfall, the water levels of the Dadu River, Qingyi River, and Min River in Leshan, Sichuan Province, southwestern China, have significantly decreased. On August 20, the Leshan Giant Buddha, located at the confluence of these three rivers, was fully exposed due to the low water levels. This has attracted many tourists as the rock formations at the Buddha’s feet had been submerged during the flooding in 2020, according to Global Times.
The Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha statue in the world, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996. The statue stands 71 meters tall, with a head that is 14.7 meters high featuring 1,021 topknots, shoulders measuring 24 meters wide, a nose that is 5.3 meters tall, ears that are 6.7 meters long, eye sockets that are 3.3 meters wide, and eyebrows that are 5.5 meters long. The index finger of the statue measures 8.3 meters, and the smallest toenail is large enough for a person to sit on. The two guardian figures flanking the statue are approximately 16 meters tall and 6 meters wide, dressed in battle robes and holding ceremonial weapons.
The Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest stone Buddha statue in the world.
The construction of the Leshan Giant Buddha began in 713 during the Tang Dynasty. Monk Hai Tong initiated this project with the hope that the statue would help calm the turbulent waters of the river, making it safer for passing ships. After his death, two of his disciples continued the construction, which was completed in 803.
After the statue was completed, the once-turbulent river became more tranquil. However, experts believe that the direct cause may have been the large amount of rock that was carved away, which altered the river’s flow.
Since late July, rainfall in Leshan has been 40% to 80% lower compared to the same period in previous years. Currently, the water level at the site of the Leshan Giant Buddha is approximately 354 meters, several meters lower than the average water level in August. Local authorities have also implemented emergency measures to address the drought.
