Leshan 10: Xiuxi

This woman is taking a rest (xiuxi, 休息) after completing the Leshan hike.

Leshan 9: Line Friends

Although the wait in line was immensely long, it gave us an opportunity to make friends with the mother and daughter ahead of us in line.  They even bought us boiled corn on the cob, to eat as a snack.  Notice how beautifully dressed they are for a day of hiking!

Leshan 8: People mountain, people sea

Many, many other people also decided to visit Leshan on the same weekend we visited.  In English, we might say the people were wall to wall, or the lines were like Disneyland.  In China they say, “Ren shan, ren hai, 人山，海人” or people mountain, people sea.  And yes, we waited over four hours in this line before our hike around Da Fu, 大佛 (Big Buddha).

Leshan 7: Cliff-side Chamber

Many years ago, we visited the Walnut Canyon cliff dwellings in Flagstaff, Arizona.  We loved imagining how it might have been to live there, wondering how ancient parents kept their toddlers safe on high.  The statues in this cliff-side chamber remind me of Walnut Canyon.  I wonder if people in this area ever lived in cliff-caves; or if the artist just creatively chose this safe setting for his piece?

Leshan 6: Weathered Statues

As a high school photography student, my oldest son captured images of weathered statues in London, and mused about the way weathering changed expressions, as if natural forces were re-creating the artwork.  Here in Leshan the same thing has happened.  These statues are clearly in the posture of prayer, but their faces are now expressionless, featureless, somehow peaceful.

Leshan 5: Monk Statue

Although his hand is raised in what might be a wave, this monk statue looks too stern to be welcoming visitors.  Is he warning them away…or calling them to serious prayer?  Whatever his purpose, I am impressed by his beautiful hands and the natural way his prayer beads rest on his knee.

Leshan 4: Dragon Teeth and Claw

I love how this dragon’s teeth and claw seem to emerge out of the greenery.

Leshan 3: Family Portrait

A family takes time for a group photo to commemorate their day out at Leshan.

Leshan 2: The Thinker

Others along the trail posed willingly for photographs.  This one reminds me a little of Rodin’s “Thinker.”

Leshan 1: Adventuress

Our last weekend in China, we visited Leshan with our best adventure buddies.  I snapped and have posted this photo without permission, because I think the subject is beautiful–and, as always, well prepared.  (Note:  she is carrying two umbrellas and a huge bag of treats.)