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James and Keli finally reach the Leshan Giant Buddha after earlier attempts to visit were cancelled. They climb to the statue in manageable weather and crowds, examine its carved hair, face, hands and feet, and learn about its construction over 90 years in the eighth century and periods of damage and repair. They also find a pavilion and look at the grottos cut into the cliff. The Buddha faces Leshan, and the pair note its designation as a World Heritage site in 1996. Their visit expands into the Oriental Buddha Palace, a park with thousands of Buddhist statues and caves. They see the Pharmacist Buddha cave, an underground cave with a 33-meter seated Buddha, a cave about the wheel of reincarnation and six realms, a 10,000 Buddha cave, and a 170-meter reclining Buddha. They recommend allowing time for the wider park, which they say contains more than 3,000 Buddhas.
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More about the current video:(Published on 2023-02-20)
Reaching the Leshan Giant Buddha
James and Keli had tried to visit the Leshan Giant Buddha before, but earlier attempts were cancelled. This time the weather is pleasant and the crowds are manageable. They make their way up to the statue and take in its scale from the viewing platform. The video describes the construction as lasting 90 years in the eighth century and gives the Buddha’s height as more than 70 meters. James and Keli look closely at the spirals in its hair, the detail in its face and the grottos carved into the cliff. They also discover a pavilion during their walk. At the base, they look at the Buddha’s feet and hands, including the carved fingernails.
They learn about periods when the statue was damaged and later reconstructed, and the video notes its designation as a World Heritage site in 1996. The Buddha faces Leshan city; the pair imagine what the view might be for people in nearby office buildings. These details turn the visit into both a close look at the carving and a discussion of its history and place in the city.
The Oriental Buddha Palace and its caves
The excursion continues beyond the main statue when James and Keli find the Oriental Buddha Palace, a large park containing thousands of Buddhas representing different Buddhist sculptures and cultures. They explore caves, including the Pharmacist Buddha cave and an underground cave with a 33-meter seated Buddha. Another cave depicts the wheel of reincarnation and the six realms of existence. The pair also describe intricate grottos showing scenes from the Buddha’s life, a 10,000 Buddha cave filled with carvings and another 33-meter seated Buddha. Their route ends at a 170-meter reclining Buddha.
The video recommends exploring the wider park rather than limiting a visit to the famous cliffside statue. It says the Oriental Buddha Palace has more than 3,000 Buddhas and contains historical and cultural material across its grounds. James and Keli’s day includes the main statue, its history and carved details, the pavilion, the caves and the reclining Buddha, with the larger complex becoming the surprise of their trip.
FAQs (From the traveler's perspective)
- Q: What surprised James and Keli most on the visit?
- A: They did not expect to find the Oriental Buddha Palace and its many other Buddhas. The large park became a major part of the visit, with caves and statues beyond the main cliffside figure.
- Q: What part of the wider complex did they like best?
- A: They especially liked the grottos, which contain carvings and scenes connected with Buddha’s life. They also explored caves including the Pharmacist Buddha cave and one depicting the wheel of reincarnation.
- Q: Was the walk to the top difficult?
- A: James and Keli said the walk up was manageable on the day they visited, when crowds were not heavy. They noted that it would likely be harder on a busy day.
- Q: How long is the reclining Buddha?
- A: The video gives the reclining Buddha’s length as 170 meters. It is one of the final discoveries in the pair’s exploration of the Oriental Buddha Palace.
- Q: How many Buddhas are at the Oriental Buddha Palace?
- A: The video says the Oriental Buddha Palace contains more than 3,000 Buddhas. James and Keli recommend exploring the park rather than limiting a visit to the main Leshan Giant Buddha.
