Fifty miles west of Chongqing City, Dazu County is home to the world famous Dazu Rock Carvings, an impressive collection of ancient monuments dating as far back as the 9th century.
There are 40 sites with Buddhist, Taoist and Confucian cave paintings and sculptures in Dazu County. The artistic endeavor began under the Tang Dynasty and continued for five centuries into the Song Dynasty. In all there are 50,000 statues strewn across this UNESCO World Heritage site.
The carvings are depictions from Buddhist scriptures, but there’s a heavy infusion of Taoist and Confucian tradition, presenting a distinctly Chinese blend of influences. Off limits during the destructive Cultural Revolution, these carvings have been well preserved.
Baoding Shan (Treasured Summit Hill) is the most impressive collection of carvings, followed by Bei Shan. Other sites include Nanshan, Shizhuanshan and Shimenshan. All of these are within easy reach of Dazy City, where visitors will find plenty of accommodation options.
Getting There & Away
Chongqing is the gateway to Dazu County. The international airport in Chongqing connects to major Chinese cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong (all over 2 hours), with a few international connections to Asian and East European cities. Shuttle buses from between Chongqing and Dazu City take around 40 minutes to arrive.