Dazu Rock Carvings 1 Day Tour

Service Description

Please contact us for an itinerary and quote. The Dazu Rock Carvings are a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site in Dazu District, Chongqing, featuring over 50,000 statues and 100,000 inscriptions across five major locations, with Beishan and Baodingshan being the most famous. Beishan Rock Carvings date from the late 9th to mid-12th century and are the oldest group in Dazu. They stretch about 300–500 meters along cliff faces about 7–10 meters high, showcasing over 5,000 sculptures. The carvings reflect themes from Tantric Buddhism and Taoism with exquisite craftsmanship, embodying styles from the late Tang to Song dynasties. Notable works include the Circular Grottoes and the Thousand-Armed Avalokitesvara. Beishan is valued as a significant historical repository of Chinese rock sculpture art. Baodingshan Rock Carvings, created mainly during the 12th and 13th centuries under the guidance of the monk Zhao Zhifeng, are located in a U-shaped valley and stretch about 500 meters. This site features tens of thousands of vividly painted Buddhist sculptures, including the world's largest semi-reclining Buddha, the Thousand-Armed Avalokiteshvara with 830 arms, and the Wheel of Samsara depicting the cycle of rebirth. Baodingshan is celebrated for its grand scale, rich colors, and detailed depictions of Buddhist scriptures and daily life. Together, these sites exemplify the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism in Chinese religious art and provide a vivid window into spiritual and everyday life during the 9th to 13th centuries.