To the Big Buddha

Trip Start Jan 10, 2008

Trip End Feb 06, 2008

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Flag of China Chengdu, China
Saturday, January 12, 2008

Day three - drizzly and dreary, but things stay big
I decided to make an early start and head for Leshan CityRight aligned photo tag:

Across to Leshan

to view the sitting Grand Buddha and explore the 'serenity' of the scenic park. I had a chance of doing this about a year and a half ago after completing a long, exhausting, and sweaty step climb up Mt Ermei. Once back down, decided to give the Leshan trip a miss. I get a bit cynical about doing tour excursions, so it was nice to do it alone and independently.
The buses were frequent, convenient and comfortable during the 90 minute journey. This is one bit of organization the Chinese seem to be getting right, despite the inevitable dispute about seat allocations. Why they can't talk but shout at each other is anyone's guess.
The bus sped along the newly constructed highway. Although the drizzle came on, the bus coasted along nicely.
China, due to its mega fast development, is a hub to all sorts of businesses from furniture to tires. The numerous bland billboards were ample testimony of its rush towards modernity. The other side to the coin were the farmers tilling the flat arable land; spacious acreage that needs to be preserved at all costs before some unscrupulous land taker comes along and gobbles it up. The only other viewing was of a Jacky Chan film, making more uneducated entertainment. However the action together with the music fitted in nicely with the buses coasting speed as it continued along its downward pace toward the 143 km distant Leshan. The movie for the journey back didn't finish before the bus stopped.
It wasn't quite a peck and hunt system after reaching Leshan's bus station, but I had to board another bus to the Buddha site which clattered through the town. I hadn't a clue where to get off. The driver kindly drove me back to the site, free of charge.
The 70 RMB entrance fee wasn't bad off-season value; I spent nearly three hours exploring the site. Right aligned photo tag:

Courtyard, Linguo Temple

Linguo Temple on the way to the Buddha is an interesting conglomeration of lit goblets, a row of Arhats images - disciples of the Sakyamuni, gilded statues of the Buddha, and the usual aroma of wafting incense. I think I preferred the glow from the candles.Reaching the site, it was difficult to get a view with a photo, as Chinese, of course, got in first, barring the chance. I explored a nearby pagoda which looked sad and neglected; the Buddha takes all the attention. The stone sculpture, being the largest in China, takes some beating, and is ample Left aligned photo tag:

'Grand Buddha,' all of him

testimony to the popularity of religious belief in china. It questions China's stance as an atheistic communist state. It seems to pick on Christianity, but Buddha existed before Christ. It was introduced into Chinese civilization by the Tang Dynasty. There are many other altars, statues, temples and incense throughout the country. But what does Buddhism mean? Enlightenment, which is more than worshiping the image or reciting a lot of scriptures. Left aligned photo tag:

The Great Enlightener

Religion is more than just a description or a described, in this case, an engraved, thing.
Tourists were content like me to take photos at the top of the gigantic statue and below it. Right aligned photo tag:

Riverside Area, Buddha Park

The drizzle persisted which, together with the cold, hasn't done anything to alleviate rheumatism plaguing my left hip.Left aligned photo tag:

Here are some more thumbnails of the Grand Buddha Park

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