LeshanGiantBuddha乐山大佛Withitsrichandcolorfulhistory,Chinaisacountrywithmanytalestotell.Anddespiteitsnew-foundfortunesanditsobsessiveraceintothefuture,religionisstillking.A90-minutedrivefromthecityofChengduinChina’sSichuanprovinceisthelargeststoneBuddhaintheworld.HisnameisDafo.Andtheeasiestwaytogetaneyefulofthisoversizedmonumentisbytouristferry.Andthere’snoshortageofthemmakingthe30-minuteroundtrip,butyouwon’tbeabletopullupinfrontofthebigBuddhaforlong.Weareactuallystrugglingtostayinthisspot,becausethesecurrentsaresodangerous.Andthat’sthewholereasonwhythisbigfellawascreatedtosubduetheviolentrivermonsterwhowascapsizingboatsandswallowingthousandsoffishermen.Well,guesswhatitworked.Thewaterswerecalmedbyhisspiritualpresence.That,andthefactthebigchunksofrockthattheychippedoffintothewaterslowedthecurrent.But,hey,let’snotgetpicky.Boatisoneoption,butifyouwantacloserlookonland,thenyou’llhavetobravethecrowdsandthefewhundredmetalstairs.Holy-molly!I’veseensomesupersizedBuddha’sinmytime,butDafoisliterallyheadandshouldersabovetherest10storeyshigh,100monkscouldsitonjustonefoot.Andifhestoodup,he’dalmostbeeye-to-eyewiththeStatueofLiberty.He’sover70meterstall,andbackin713,tookhundredsofworkersover90yearstocarve.AndevenifyougetasmoggyChinadayliketoday,he’sstillquiteasighttobehold.Westernersarestillfewandfarbetweenintheseparts,ofthethousandsoftouriststhatcometoseeDafoeveryday,themajorityareChinese.Andyoucan’tvisitwithouttakinghomeakeepsake.Oi!Shecan’treach!Yeah,Yeah.Thisisliketheequivalentofwhenyousortof…standinItalyattheLeaningTowerofPisaandsortoftryandholditup.It’sareallydaggytouristythingtodo,butIcouldn’tresist.What’sthenextone?What’sthenextone?TheBuddha’sprecinctisanattractioninitselfwithanonsitetempleandashrinededicatedtoHaitong,theBuddhistmonkwhoraisedthefundstobuildthebigguy.ErosionisthebiggestthreattoDafo’ssurvival.Butsince2001,it’srumouredthatover40millionbuckshasbeenspenttokeephimintact.Likemostoldfellas,theBuddha’sgotalittlebitoffoliagegrowingoutofhisearsandnose.Buthe’slookingprettygoodfor1300.Though,betweenyouandme,Ithinkhe’shadabitofworkdone.
