Nanshan Stone Carving, Buddhist stone sculptures in Pingyao town, Hangzhou, China.
Nanshan Stone Carving is a collection of Buddha and other religious figures carved into cliff faces, with some reaching over 6 meters high. The carvings are integrated into the mountain landscape and can be reached by climbing stone steps through the terrain.
The carvings were created during the Southern Song Dynasty between 1127 and 1279, when the area served as a royal quarry for imperial building projects in Lin'an, today's Hangzhou. This period shaped the location as a source of construction materials for the city.
The carvings show Buddhist and Taoist figures that reflect different religious traditions of the region. This mix of sacred imagery shows how several faiths coexisted in the local art.
The site requires climbing stone steps, which takes about 15 minutes to fully explore. Wear good shoes since the path is steep and the steps can be uneven.
At the top of the steps stands the only remaining Taoist figure, depicting a character with flowing hair holding a sword above a snake coiled around a tortoise. This unusual image combines multiple symbolic elements from Chinese mythology in a single composition.
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