Dazu Rock Carvings Scenic Area near Chongqing

Deap in the mountains near the city of Dazu lie the Dazu Stone Carvings. This extrordinary collection of some Buddhist 50,000 stone carvings are cut into the living hill side. They are a unique heritage dating to the earliest times of Buddhism's introduction to China. The earilest carvings date to the 7th century but most of the work is 9th and 10 century. The carvings around Baodingshan are 12th century and largly the work of just one monk over a period of 70 years. This site was little known to the world and so well protected from the events of recent history. It is now recognised as a world heritage site attracts tourists from all over the world.