Chongqing - Dazu Grottos
Dazu Grottos (Dazu Stone Carvings) is a World Heritage site in China. It is 160 km northwest of Chongqing, include over 60,000 figures scattered in more than 100 places. they are primarily Buddhist cave sculptures noted for unusual domestic details as well as purely religious themes. They were carved during Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279) times. The two major sites are Beishan (North Hill) and Baodingshan(Baoding Hill).
Sculptures in Beishan include over 10,000 figures of Buddha and Bodhisattvas in various poses. They are famous for their elegance and exquisiteness. The Tang figures are decorous, full and round in appearance, simple and honest in temperament. The ones carved in later dynasties are more ingenious, subtle, dainty and graceful. Baodingshan figures are centered around a magnificent 100-foot reclining Buddha. More than 10,000 figures were inscribed along a nearly 400-meter-long U-shaped cliff bend, very much like a long picture-story scroll. Those scriptures demonstrated a skillful combination of scientific principles and artistic models, reflecting the rich social context and very flavor of life of ancient Chinese people.
Travel Tips
You may take a bus at the Caiyuan Ba, Chongqing Municipal to the Dazu County Bus Station (CNY 45). There are two bus stations at the Dazu County, one for long distance another for short distance which is the one to the spot area. After arrival at Long-Distanced Bus Station of the Dazu County two hours later, you may hire a rickshaw (CNY 2) to the Short-Distanced Bus Station. Then taking a bus to the Baodingshan (CNY 3) will take you twenty minutes and later you will arrive the entrance of this spot. At last you will take a rickshaw to the ticket office of the spot.
- Admission Fee: CNY 123 (including charges of carving in Beishan, Baodingshan and bus fare)
- Opening Hours: 08:40 (am) to 17:00 (pm)
- Recommended Time for a Visit: One and a half hours
