Mengshan Giant Buddha, Stone Buddha sculpture in Jinyuan District, China.
The Mengshan Giant Buddha is a 46-meter stone figure carved directly into a mountain face near Taiyuan. The monumental sculpture sits on a steep rocky cliff and is surrounded by pathways that make the artwork accessible to visitors.
This work originates from 560 CE during the Northern Qi Dynasty, making it older than the more famous Leshan Giant Buddha. The carving was created during a period when Buddhist monuments flourished across this region.
The sculpture depicts Siddhartha Gautama and draws Buddhist pilgrims who come to pray and meditate at this location. Visitors can observe devotional practices and sense the spiritual importance this place holds for many people.
The site is accessible via well-maintained pathways that lead to various viewing points of the sculpture. Visitors should wear comfortable footwear and be prepared for rocky or steep sections of the trail.
The Buddha's original head was lost long ago, but a new 12-meter head section was added between 2006 and 2008. This restoration shows how craftspeople preserved an ancient artwork for future generations to experience.
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