CHINA 5A TRAVEL
Start at the Baodingshan museum for the stories, walk the horseshoe cliff counter-clockwise ending at the Reclining Buddha, then head to Beishan for the refined Song statuary - at dusk if the night tour runs.
Suggested Itinerary
- Dazu Stone Carving Museum
The modern museum at Baodingshan - context on Zhao Zhifeng's 70-year project and the karma panels. - Baodingshan horseshoe cliff
Parents' Kindness, the Hell court, then the Thousand-Hand Guanyin - the walk takes 90 unhurried minutes. - The Reclining Buddha
The 31-meter finale at the cliff's far end; finish at Shengshou Temple behind it. - Transfer to Beishan
Bus or taxi 15 km; lunch en route in Dazu town. - Beishan carvings
The crowned Guanyins and 'heart sutra' pillar - or return at dusk for the lantern-lit night version.
What to See
Thousand-Hand Guanyin's gold fan
830 restored arms radiating like a mandala - stand center for the symmetry.
Reclining Buddha's half-body disciples
Figures deliberately sunk waist-deep in rock to suggest emergence from the void.
The chicken-feeding woman
Hell's only smiling soul - Song humor in stone.
Beishan's 'Oriental Venus'
The sun-disc crowned Guanyin with court-dress drapery - Song carving at its softest.
Shengshou Temple
The working Ming temple above the cliff - incense, turtles and quiet.
Night-lit Beishan
Warm lanterns raking the niches - carvings by candlelight, as intended.
Photo Gallery
Tips from Real Travelers
Food & Drink
Dazu 'dingding' candy
The county's famous malt-pulled toffee - hammered and sold on street corners.
Dazu winter vegetable (冬菜)
The county's salt-fermented preserved greens, stirred through local dishes and jarred as the classic edible souvenir.
Chongqing hotpot
Dinner back in Dazu town or on return to the city.
Farm-style river fish
Rural restaurants between Baodingshan and the county seat.
Comments