The Giant Buddha of Leshan (aka Dafo) is the tallest (71m, 230ft) stone Buddha statue in the world. It was carved out of a cliff face by an 8th-century monk in southern Sichuan province, near the city of Leshan.The Giant Buddha lies at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. It faces the sacred Mount Emei (with which it shares its World Heritage status), with the rivers flowing below his feet. Construction on the Giant Buddha began in 713 AD. It was the idea of a Chinese monk named Haitong, who hoped that the Buddha would calm the turbulent waters that plagued the shipping vessels travelling down the river. The project was finally completed by his disciples 90 years later. The "Mount Emei Scenic Area with Leshan Giant Buddha" was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1996.
