A China Travel

Beijing (Peking) is well known for its flatness and regular constructions. Like the configuration of the Forbidden City, Beijing has concentric "ring roads", which are actually rectangular, that go around the metropolis. It was also the seat of the Qing dynasty emperor until the formation of a republic in 1911, so it has rich historical sites, and important government institutions. Taking a travel to Peking is my long-cherished wish. In the golden autumn of 2000, I achieved what I’d dreamed for a long time, that was visiting to the heart of our motherland—Peking, and I really experienced its fantastic scene.

On the day of September 11th, when the sun rayed in the morning, my friends and I got the majestic Tiananmen Square, the largest city square in the world and the spiritual heart of China, where the national flag is raised exactly at sunrise everyday. It is surrounded by Soviet-style monuments and government buildings. I pressed the camera shutter continually and took photographs of the Monument to the People’s Heroes, the Great Hall of the People and the Tiananmen Gate. Then we entered the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall which sits in the south of the square. I presented a bundle of fresh flowers in state before the Chairman Mao’s statuary and made a bow for three times in front of the portrait of Chairman Mao laid in the crystal coffin. Outside the Chairman Mao Memorial Hall, the workers were busily decorating the square with flowers and lights to greet the great occasion of the National Day.

We then walked to the Forbidden City, which is officially known as the Imperial Palace Museum. It is also located in the center of Beijing, used to be the imperial palace of the Ming and Qing dynasties with a history of around 600 years, and now is the grandest integral palace complex still remaining in China. We got there when the gate was opened at 8.30am, then we walked through the vast and spectacular courtyards in relative peace. This is the right spot that visitors can appreciate the might and grandeur of the Imperial Chinese court during the height of its power in Ming and Qing dynasties. Then we were on the Tian’an Men Gate and retrospected the grand ceremony of founding the state on the National Day of 1949. I felt as if Chairman Mao was standing here and seriously declared, “People's Republic of China has been established! Chinese people stand up from now on!"

From Shenwumen Gate we got out of the Imperial Palace, and reached Jingshan park near by as well as Beihai park, where the landscape is beautiful and charming.

On the day of September 12th, we had a travel-stained visit to the Summer Palace, which is well known both in domestic and foreign. The Summer Palace is located on the northwestern outskirts of the city, and used to be the imperial summer resort of the Qing Dynasty. With the perfect layout, magnificent buildings and enchanting landscape, it is the most splendid classical garden in China. Most visitors gathered in the front hill, but we preferred quiet places, we turned to the west bank and directly went to the back hill area, where there were some quiet and secret ruins, caves, and ruined docks.
In China, there is a famous saying, “you’re not a Plucky Hero till you climb up the Great Wall.” It was clear and cloudless on September 13th, and we took the special route of sight seeing bus to the Juyong Pass and Badaling section of the Great Wall. The Great Wall is the symbol of China and also one of the seven wonders in the world. The incredible Great Wall began construction almost 2,500 years ago under the direction of one of the most notorious and influential Emperors in China, that is Qin Shihuang emperor. It was a massive project involving countless millions of hands building the Wall stone by stone, the original purpose was to keep out of barbarian invaders from the North. The Wall is on top of mountain chains. Upon to the Great Wall, the guide suggested us bringing a jacket to resist the wind and cold.
The Badaling section is the most famous, but also the most over-restored and crowded part of the Great Wall. Jin Shan Ling and Huang Shan are more distant, with several hours’ drive but offer a better view of the wall in a less restored state with fewer crowds. There were too many people on Badaling section that day, and it seemed that it is not the Great Wall of China, but the Great Wall of Tourists.
We didn’t take a full enjoy to our hearts’ content during these days. But we were strongly moved by the historical ambience here for its vicissitudes and resplendence. I wish to come back to visit Peking, the world-famed historic city!

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I am traveling to the Silk Road, I am visiting Dunhuang, which is my dream. The ancient Silk Road used to be the main artery of communication and cultural exchange between China and the western countries. However, as the development and evolvement of history, the function and resplendence of the “Silk Road” in those years have gone. What will the “Silk Road” leave us after it suffered from baptism? In hope of discovering the suspense in our heart and recalling the refulgent cultural river of history, we eight people started our plan of “travel to the West”, re-walking the “Silk Road” following the Ancients’ footmarks.

In the morning of September 20th, 2002, at 8:00, holding the mood of exploring the mysterious “Silk Road”, we took flight 3995 to our first destination to the western region, Urumqi, Xinjiang. We were transferred to Xi’an. And after about 5 hours of flight, we safely landed in Urumqi (the interborough capital of Xinjiang) airport. Through the arrangement of the Chinese travel agency , Xinjiang branch, we fixed on the route of our trip to the western region. In the evening, we had a wash and started visiting the city, tasting the orthodox snacks in Xinjiang-- rinse mutton and roasted muttony string. The transportation in the city is also convenient, which charges only 6RMB for renting a car.

Returned to the guest house, we took a rest for a night. On the morning of September 21th, at 8:00, we got on the microbus arranged by the travel agency, started to the northern Xingjiang. We planned to started from Urumqi, towards the northeast, and through Fukang, Fuyun, Aletai, to our destination--Bu’erjing, the whole route is more than 900 kilometers long.

We arrived at Tianchi Lake—our first destination at 10:00 am. Locating on the mountainside, and 120 kilometers away from Urumqi, it is an outstanding beauty spot characterized by high snow-capped mountains, lakes, and firs. Lacking of time, we chose to get onto mountain by autobus instead of walking. Tianchi Lake scenery, well known as Tianchi eight scenic spots, is concentrated with Tianchi Lake, surrounded by group of mountains, and densely covered by spruce. It was cool in the valley when we walked close to Tianchi Lake, it feels much greater if you take a yacht to touch the air on the lake. From the Calcinations Mountain on the altiplano Gobi to the cool fairyland all of a sudden, we were all on the scoop. Half an hour later, we were reluctant to leave and then took cable car to go down from the mountain, stepping onto another route.

After leaving Tianchi Lake, presented us was a big straight asphalt road stretches towards horizon. There were limitless plateaus Gobi desert on the both sides of the road. The vehicle was running and the road was extending. We sang and joked all the way, appreciating the outside beauty of motherland’s northwest scene. We got through the fiery-red and beautiful flaming mountain, serene pastoral spot—Shiren slope. The car chased after the sun, turning toward north and then west. Gobi desert, dust, hot and dry surrounded us. Our former curiosity was exhausted in desolation of the boundless Gobi desert. After making a long hard journey, we felt exhausted and drowsy, and finally arrived in our destination—Bu’er Jin.

We rested for a whole night, at 9:00am, September 22th, we got the license of Hanasi and set out again, today’s destination is Hanasi lake-- the most north, national AAAA-level scenic area in Xinjiang.

It is a journey of more than 300 kilometers, the herd of cattle, flock of sheep passed steep mountains, curling up a burst of boundless yellow sand, which mixed up with neigh and the jingling of camel. Moreover, it is well worth mentioning that the Aletai big tail sheep is the best material to cook grasping meat, hand--grasp rice and roasts. In the mid-afternoon, a feeling of weightlessness occurred when the car speeded up in a sudden; we were at the Hanasi lake scenery. Having a short-time rest, leaded by the guide we arrived at the Hanasi Lake front, facing the peace lake, we let ourselves go and had a cool and sweet drink. In order to save our time, we went by car to leave the Hanasi Lake at 5:00pm and lodged in Bu’er Jin again at 11:00pm.

We set out from Bu’er Jin at 9:00 on the morning of September 23th, went by car for more than 4 hours, we arrived in devil city. At 3:30pm, the interlaced artesian well station besides the road showed us we were in Kelamayi. Looking at a busy artesian well workplace, my ear resounded with a song “the song of Kelamayi”, “no grass, no water, and birds don’t fly”, nowadays the Gobi desert has become the famous petroleum city, what a big change!

Entering downtown, we settled down in the Kelamayi guesthouse, after bathing, we came to the people's square, which located in the city center. A feeling of hunger aroused, we walked to a shtick small store, and ate 40 strings of mutton.

Next morning, we got on bus at 8:00 and continued to move toward south. At 3:00pm, a mist-covered water took a refreshing cool to us, it is the highest elevation and biggest alpine lake—Sailimu lake. Having seated for about 7 hours, facing this beautiful landscape, we eagerly need an intimacy contact with the lake. We all strived to be the first to get to the lake, a fresh and cool wind, which seemed carrying an untamed nature flavor surrounded us immediately.

Passing the Sailimu Lake and the Guozi ditch, we arrived at the terminal station—Yining at 11:00pm, settled down in the guest house named Yaxiya.

Stating at the west spot of motherland, Yining,at about 7:00am, we got up with dimly drowsiness. After breakfast, we set out for our destination—Shaosu steppe. As the sun rised gradually, Yining was just like an awkward and shy young girl lifting her mysterious veil slowly. At 1:00pm, jolted out the hilly country, we drove into a wide expanse of flat land, arrived at Shaosu steppe. There were scattered snow-white flock of sheep, speed-coursing courser and simple and honest cow on the steppe. The beyond herding people stirring horses, passionately invited us to ride a horse; we became suddenly enlightened. Under the help of a herder, I drove on a horse gingerly and loafed on the steppe.

On September 26th,2002, with excellent preparation, we started for another new trip , a 900 kilometers trip from Yining directly back to Urumqi. We arrived in Wushi city at 11:00pm, although it was very late through a long hard journey, we were still tail up and visited the night view of “5.1 squares”. The night bazaar of “5.1 squares” is pretty big and special, neon flickers during the whole night, starriness irradiates in every corner of the city. The booths on the both sides were full of jollification. Our eyes were full of beautiful accouterments. Fresh and tender roast reeked fragrance. There were many special floret hat of Uigur minority. And the voice of peddlers reverberated in the air through the fume and smoke, canvassing tourists from all over the world.

September 27th, 2002. We had busy trip today，which includes visiting the flaming mountain in Turpan, Ancient city Gaochang, grape growing valley, and Karez Well. We needed to take train K890 back to Wushi city.

As time going, it became hotter and hotter in the car. We saw the flaming mountain in front of us, which is just the flaming mountain portrayed in the famous work”Journey to the West”. When the sun irradiates shiningly in mid-afternoon, the red rocks on the crisscross gullies and ravines reflect and the heat is intense as if the hillsides were engulfed by tongues of fire, hence the name.

Picking grape is much more interesting than eating it. We entered the grape growing valley, only paid 3 Yuan for one person and ate freely. Moreover, we could take one kilogram of grape out. It was 47C that day, we had heavy breath. I just picked a little bit under the airproof grapevine, reached the channel and had a wash. I felt sweet into my heart when I ate the cool grape which I put into the water.

……

There are too many beautiful things in the Tian Mountain pearl—Turpan. It turned to 5:00pm in an instant. We posted off Wushi city by car till 8:00pm. After dinner, we rushed to the train station of Xinjing and headed for Gansu province.

It was on September 27th, 2002, with rumble of the roadway, the train drove in Gansu province carrying full of our dream. We got aware of reaching Liuyuan town when we waked up at 10 in the morning. Then we were arranged to transfer by a microbus, heading for Dunhuang County which is more than 200 kilometers away from here.
Today's highlight was a visit to the remarkable Mogao Grottoes, also named Thousand Buddha Cave, locates on the eastern slope of Ratting Sand Mountain (Mingshashan). It was built up in 366 A.D, but still with the best protection. Due to the 492 frescoes as well as the 2415 painted clay figures in existence with 45,000 square meters inside the grottoes, Mogao Grottoes is not only one of the three noted grottoes in China, but also the richest treasure house of Buddhist art in the world.
Dunhuang is the west end of Hexi Corridor, the famous part on the Silk Road. It eventually formed a 1680-meter long south-north complex. The complex has two areas, the south and north. The 492 caves in the south were for a worshipping purpose. The 243 caves in the north were for monks to live, for a religious practice and a tomb yard. There are no color sculptures and frescoes.

Dancing images in Dunhuang frescoes are a brilliant gem for all human beings. There is a reversed pipa-playing status in the city center of Dunhuang, which is the symbol of Dunhuang. This reversed pipa-playing pose stimulated the idea for Silk Road and Flying Deities; it is a dance drama highly successful in and outside China.

We were reluctant to leave Mogao Grottoes. We set out from Dunhuang at 8:00am next day. After a journey of several hours we reached the Jiayu Pass city. It is located in the middle of the narrowest part of Hexi Corridor, and also the western end of the Great Wall, hence the name. “Jiayu” means “admirable valley”. The Jiayu Pass is not only the western end of the Great Wall of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), but also the vital passage of the famous Silk Road.

The impregnable pass in the world-the Jiayu Pass is composed with three defense lines - -inner city, outer city and city moat. The inner city is a main part, layer upon layer, and forms the military defense systems of one mound every 5 Li, one fort every 30 Li and one city every 100 Li. The outer wall was built with mud except for the western section, which was made of bricks. The double walls indicate the important strategic statu of this pass.
We walked down to the city Cape, and found a couple of pits being knocked. The guide told us at that time, people all kept a sorrow in mind when they had to beg for a life. Every time when they walked out of the Pass, they took a scree to knock the city Cape and it chittered as the swallow were crying. It sounds like calling the people far away from home “return, return, return”. This is also a negative reflect to the hard life of the poor people.
We ended today’s trip at 7:00pm, and had dinner in a restaurant.

On September 30th, 2002, we were waked up with drowsiness at the wee hour of 4:00am. We took the train to Gansu province with heavy baggage on our shoulders.

We reached the last destination of our trip to the west—Xi’an at the wee hour of 2:00am next day. After walked out of the station, we got rid of the ravelment and settled down in a three-star hotel near the train station.

Xi’an is a world famed start of the “silk road”. It is noted for historical importance. With 6,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses, the world-famous Terra-cotta Warriors and Horse of Xi’an unearthed from the tomb of the first emperor of the Qin Dynasty were acclaimed as the "eighth wonder" of the world and it is the greatest archeological found of this century. The other landmark like Big Wild Goose Pagoda mirrors China’s long history.

We ended this long journey at 2:00pm. On the train, we freely enjoyed the aftertaste of the significative and colorful travel of exploration. With the well-prepared arrangement, we really had a great time. Through this trip we had a further study of our splendid history and a holy baptism in our heart. We believe that life is fascinating and worthy while our hard working.

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From Jiangnan to Lanzhou, we took train for two days. And then changed cars, five days later in the evening we arrived Dunhuang. Dunhuang, in my impression, it is merely a small border town to the northwest. But in Dunhuang, I knew that I was shallow. Beacause Dunhuang is a bustling city, with all establishments eastern cities have, including health and unhealthy.
When the car crossed the long of windbreaks, and went into the cantonal, all unexpected things were no longer concerned to us, it was important that we tried our best to reached Dunhuang finally. We cheered spontaneously: Dunhuang, we are coming!

The next morning, we drove to Mo Gao Ku. In the vehicle, the leader of our team repeatedly warned us: in Mo Gao Ku, don’t take separate action, don’t leave the tour, and don’t take photos. He called them "three no" policy, we must adhere to the rules. About forty minutes trip, we got to Mo Gao Ku.
Mo Gao Ku located in a obscure khaki-coloured mountains waist. The cave were covered by sparsely wood, a long river was dry, absolutely desolate and lorn, but extremely mysterious.
Although there are marvellous spectacles such as Weeping Dune and Ku Crescent Moon Spring, undoubtedly Mo Gao Ku by Treasure for the Treasure. It brought together many of the cultural history; Collection of the painting scroll of history too; Also embodies the essence of art too much human thought. When you are in Mo Gao Ku, as if you are walking into human civilization time and unable to pull yourself up in the human small and the great.

Mo Gao Ku built in Jianyuan 2nd during the Former Qin dynasty (AD. 336), which is claimed to have 1,000 caves, in fact probably more than 500 caves. In front of the gate, we handed in our cameras (camera was not allowed in Mo Gao Ku), and followed two guides into a dark cave and entered the long process of history.
Mo Gao Ku more than 500 caves, from the former Qin Shi Huang, experienced the dynasties of Sui, Tang, Yuan, Ming and Qing, Every generation repaired holes in the cave, every cave that dynasty basically have condensed the essence of the art. We didn’t see all five hundred caves, but caves of every dynasty we visited, it seemed to be going a long history of civilization. The kind of arts and cultural differences between the characteristics and brought us toward the concert.
To protect the cave paintings and statues, Mo Gao Ku all cave lights are not installed, every cave have advanced electronic monitoring equipment to ensure the protection of heritage. Moreover, each cave is locked, guides carry a huge key to open the cave. When the visitors finished their visiting, the door was locked immediately, even a following group will immediately come to visit also are not mistakenly locked.
On the tour personnel, there was one object, flashlight, which is used for visiting. In the dark cave, people followed the guide with one foot shallow one foot deep. Suddenly the guide opened flashlight, and illuminated a beautiful murals, they already began on the images. They certainly were nonchalant to the murals and tourist’s shocking, as there was no exciting in their speech. But the visitors were experiencing some excitement and the attack of the heart. The small flashlight illuminated the great predecessors, but also the image of small ourselves.
We visited one cave by one, all caves had no name except the number: "330 houses, 350 houses, 220 houses" liked a milestone on their long, recording the process of people toward civilization, and creating civilized history. It recorded every dynasty also. Murals of Tang dynasty were undoubtedly the most outstanding in all cave, the content of the richest Tang dynasty was highest skilled. By the Qing dynasty, it was apparent some decline, no spirit, no vivid, as guides said the expression of all figures were like the same as the Empress Dowager Cixi.

Finally, we entered the 17 hole, which is the city. The most important thing in human archaeology in the twentieth century was the discovery of the city of Dunhuang. In 1900, it as if the history offer the twentieth century a gift in that year, the closed door opened to the world.
It is because of Mo Gao Ku Dunhuang, is there a city Dunhuang, while also, because of the city, is there Mao Gao Ku. Wangdaoshi who is difficult to evaluate opened the door of Dunhuang, Mo Gao Ku more than 10,000 pieces of incalculable treasures were grabbed by foreigners at here.
The door which Wangdaoshi found out was still opened, and nothing was in it. We could hardly imagine that, in this poor cave, had existed such rich cultural deposits; and it was also difficult to judge whether it was a national glory or shame.

At noon, experienced a hearts baptism, all visitors return to the vehicles exhaustedly. In the sunshine, the desert became more inhospitable. One thousand and six hundred ago, Ledun monk saw Fo Kuang on three crisis Hill, then excavated the first cave of Mo Gao Ku. Thousands of years later, a number of stonemen came here from a long and hard journey to create Mo Gao Ku brilliance. I am wondering, in the process, what supported their lives for the faith? So many fine art objects from different nation, different religious beliefs, different artistic approach, and what caused them get together in Dunhuang? Maybe this world is really difficult to explain things too much, we can not find out the answer. We are just the visitors, and we came and went, leaving our astonishment, take some small souvenirs, and then rush toward the next destination, but Mo Gao Ku will always belong to Dunhuang.

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I introduce Lijiang to my friends because Lijiang is harmonious with my feeling when I visited there. Its fantastic scenery moved me and left me a very deep impression.
In recent years, I have been to Great Wall, Tai mountain, Suzhou royal garden, I have also been to Dalian, Qingdao, and enjoyed the roaring and deafening vigor of Tai lake and Penglai, and …However, I always felt that I was a guest, just a guest, small and blank, because most of the places I have been to can hardly get me serious appreciation.
While, compared with them, Naxi, an old town of Lijiang, is completely different. As soon as I arrived in the ancient town, I felt just like, I came back home. No matter how many persons visited there, and no matter how many shops there were. I was just attracted by the charming and historical town: Fishes swam in crystal river, willow trees showed us their experience over thousands of years, old wooden houses with red walls and cyan tiles displayed assembly of architectures, and every bridge told us a plangent story. Even the paths, at the both sides of bridge, also showed us ancientry and modernization…
After the sun went down beneath the horizon, every family lit up lanterns and dark red light rushed onto the river. Most of the districts were tranquil because every pub did not attempt to, in blatant street, persuade their tourists to live in, even though all of them opened up to all tourists. The leisure atmosphere is just like the characters of local guys, idle and indolent. When I entered a shop, suddenly, a special feeling arising from my heart, I felt as though I was strolling in the art world, meanwhile, shop keeper was a folk artist. Silver accessories, sheepskin paintings, batiks and wooden craftworks were displayed everywhere in the shop. Some of them were laid out, some were hung, and even some were set out leisurely. They were so fancy and superb that I could not put them down once I picked them up and appreciated them in my hands. Young shop keeper talked with his assistants, vividly. “What are they talking about?” I thought, “Maybe it was an impressive love story.” I smiled….
However, beside these quiet places, there are blatant places also. Sifang street and “a wisp of sunlight”, you can find here and there and all people will get tighter at Sifang street in the end. Under the clear and bright moon light and red light of lanterns, with the melodious Naxi music, diligent Naxi girls handling in hand danced into a circle and sang their ancient songs…
“A wisp of sunlight” is famous bar street, every bar which is all decorated primitively and simply. At the daytime, you can sit there enjoying the fantastic landscape of the other side of Lijiang river, or attract tourist, or think about yourself. Meanwhile, you are also a part of the scenery of other tourists relatively. It is absolutely a paradise of young people after the sun goes down. In the evening, every bar lit up their lanterns and hung in bunch. Upstairs and downstairs at both sides of the river were full of guests. Some of them were young people who were dressed various costumes, some were tourists came all the way for the beautiful scenery, and some were tall and behaving lovely foreigners, but most of them were smart guys and charming girls. Ebullient Naxi youths began to sing their folk songs, and soon, all tourists joined in them. “Yaso, yaso, yaso…” songs rose up and down. At that point, I thought, drinking was not important any more, and food seemed unnecessary as well…
It is intoxicating in this old town in the evening. And I am thinking, Lijiang is just my home, my spirit land. And I am also thinking, when I walk on the streets, from the bottom of my heart, if I could meet a girl who has the same experience as mine, and if I could live there with her forever, spending wonderful times and enjoying the romantic moments…
Unfortunately, for the life of mine, it destines no such opportunities.

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Leshan Giant Buddha

, a stone statue of 71m height, is carved out of a cliff face that lies at the

confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers in the southern part of

Sichuan province in

China, near the city of Leshan. According to

records, the carving of this giant Buddha was begun in the first year of the reign of the

Tang Emperor Tang Xuanzong (713 AD), and completed in the 19th year of Emperor Dezong (803

AD), with a total of 90 years. It is now the largest stone-carved Buddha in the world.

This is my one-day tour

experience in Leshan Giant Buddha spot.a

Before we visited the great work, our guide gave us a brief introduction that the solemn

Buddha is 71 meters high and its head itself is 14.7 meters high. Its ear is 6.2 meters

long, eye 3.3 meters wide, and shoulder 34 meters wide. Its middle finger is 8.3 meters

long and the smallest toenail is large enough to accommodate a seated person.

Taller by 17 meters than the standing Buddha in Afghanistan, Leshan Giant Buddha was added

to the World Natural and Cultural Heritage List. The stone sculpture faces the Holy peak

Mount E

’mei, with the rivers flowing below his feet. The statue depicts a seated Buddha

with his hands resting on his knees, his head reaching the hilltop and his feet the river,

occupying the entire hillside. There is a local saying: " The mountain is a Buddha and the

Buddha is a mountain".
It was a monk called Hai Tong who initiated the project. Master Haitong, a Buddhist abbot

of the Lingyun Monastery, raised the necessary funds and commenced the construction of the

Giant Buddha in order to subdue the waters and save lives. After 20 years' begging alms, he

finally accumulated enough money for the plan. When some local government officials had

designs on tempting this amount of money, Hai Tong said that they could get his eyeball but

not the money raised for the Buddha. After Hai Tong dug out his eyeball, these officials

ran away scared. The project was half done when Hai Tong passed away, and two of his

disciples continued the work. After a total of 90 years' hard work, the project was finally

completed. I was totally moved by the story.
Though it was designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, over the past 1,000 years,

erosion did become a major threat to the statue. Strong winds, heavy rains, acid rain and

visitors have left their marks. Water detained at the stomach of the Buddha has lowered the

strength of the rock, and as a result, plants and fungi have sprung up from the upper part

of the body.

We chose to visit the Giant Buddha by a walk. We stepped onto the breathtaking plank road

alongside the cliff, climbed around the statue and got a good sense of proportion, it was

really worth looking at the Grand Buddha from several angles. The total walking takes about

2 hours. After 40 minutes, we went to the top, opposite the head. The charm of the Buddha

lies not only in its size but also in its architectural artistry. The head of the Leshan

Buddha is covered with 1,021 buns of curly hair. Seen from afar, they seem to be a whole

while in fact they are made of rocks and each of which is large enough to support a big

round table. But stone coils of hair on the head of the statue have fallen down.

We then reached it’s huge nose, has turned black and the face has become speckled because

of acid rain. What looks like tear stains can be found at the corner of the Buddha's eyes,

and part of the body surface has begun to peel off. During the way, I felt a little dizzy.

We descend a short stairway to the feet for a Lilliputian perspective at last. Each of the

feet is 11 meters long and 8.5 meters wide, large enough to accommodate more than 100

people sitting on it.

Leshan statue is a work of art as well as a work of creativity. We looked carefully and

found an internal drainage system was incorporated into the sculpture that is still in

working order. My guide told us, the drainage pipes were carved in various places on the

body, that scattered on the head and arms, behind the ears and in the clothes to carry away

the water after the rains so as to reduce weathering, and they play an important part in

the protection of the Buddha.

There is another interesting thing, according to the experts involved in the maintenance in

1962, there is a cave in the chest of the Buddha. On entering the cave they found scrap

iron and bricks. The stele covering the entrance of the cave dates from the Song Dynasty.

The reason for this stele in the chest of the Buddha remains a mystery.

The huge statue not only represents the brilliant civilization of ancient China but also

the largest ancient sculpture in the world.

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