We packed up and checked out of Mix Hostel to travel 2.5 hours south to the small town of Leshan. This town is home of the world’s largest stone Buddha! After getting off of the coach bus, we took a local bus to the entrance of the park. It was a beautiful, foggy morning in Leshan. However, due to our schedule, we had to carry all our belongs while we hiked through the park. Thank goodness for packing light!
The walls of the mountain were carved and painted. The moss has taken over the area ever since the Buddha was carved out of the cliff face during the Tang Dynasty.
The way in which the Buddha is carved into the mountain is quite interesting. There are 4 different ways to view the Buddha. Two of the ways include viewing it from a side angle. You can also view it from the water on a boat or walking down the side of the cliff to view it from below. We all really wanted to climb down the cliff to see the full view of the Buddha; unfortunately, since it just rained the steps were closed due to being slippery. The group decided to view it from the two sides and boy was it big!
Notice by the Buddha’s eyebrow is the other angle in which tourists can view it. Can you see the small ant-size humans? Pretty massive, huh?
These were the treacherous steps we wanted to take down the side of the cliff! Maybe I’ll be able to walk down them next time I visit! As we continued through the park, we came across a garden. In my opinion, everything is more beautiful with fog!
I almost walked into this fellow! He was quite photogenic for me but I felt bad because everyone who was looking at what I was taking a picture of screamed!
We climbed higher and higher. Next to waterfalls and up steps. We carried all of our belongings and appreciated this hidden treasure in this small town.
As we walked back down to the exit of the park, we found one last pair of death steps we hadn’t walked up yet. I call them death steps because you feel as though you will die walking up them and die if you fall down them!
Our final find was worth the climb! It was an old structure that overlooks the whole park! It’s 13 stories tall!
(Thank goodness I’m wearing bright green. Otherwise, you can’t see me!)
After a long day of hiking with our bags, we took another 45 minute bus ride south to Emil Shan. Here we checked into our new hostel, The Teddy Bear Hostel! Don’t ask me why its called this but the exterior looked like a log cabin while the interior looked like a modern hotel! It was quite a treat staying here!
We planned on staying in this hostel because it is located directly at the base of Mount Emil. Since coming to China, I’ve noticed that I really love to climb mountains. It’s such hard work but the views make it 100% worth the sweat and pain! I hope to learn more about climbing and great places to hike in Beijing as well.