Dazu Rock Carvings – one of the eight famous grottoes in the world
Last Update: 23rd October 2020
Located in Dazu District, Chongqing, Dazu Rock Carvings, the World Cultural Heritage Site, present the highest level of the grotto art in the world. It shows the major developments and changes of Chinese grotto art styles in the Tang (618 – 907) and Song (960 – 1279) Dynasties from different aspects, and has the irreplaceable historical, artistic and scientific value of the early grottoes.
Dazu Rock Carvings Fast Facts
- Chinese Name: Dazu Shike (大足石刻)
- Area: 167 square kilometers
- Things to do there: Rock Carvings, Buddhism, Taoism, Hiking, Photography
- Who visits: Artists, Buddhist and Taoism Believer, Adventurers
- Time required: 3 – 5 x hours
Dazu Rock Carvings offer 70 spots of rock carvings to explore. The earliest existing, Jianshanzi Cliff Sculptures were created in 650. You will find the stone sculptures of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. The cliff sculptures on the North Mountain and Baoding Mountain stand out among the sculptures. They are the best-known.
The cliff sculptures on the North Mountain are more than 300 meters long. Originally dug in 892, throughout the construction from the Later Liang Dynasty (907 – 723) to 1162, the existing 4,600 sculptures are the essence of the Chinese late grotto art. There are more than 5,000 rock carvings with 51 sculpture themes on the North Mountain. The themes were very popular among locals in ancient times.
The sculpture of the Thousand-hand Bodhisattva is one of the highlights of the Dazu Rock Carvings. Located on the southern cliff of the Baoding Mountain, it is one of the largest important representative works in China that integrates engraving, painting and gilding. Made in the Song Dynasty, rock carvings on the Shimen Mountain features the Buddhist and Taoist sculptures. The Taoist sculptures there are the most distinctive.
The sculptures with different gestures and countenance and show the excellent skills in the ancient China. In addition, the stone inscriptions introduce relevant social situation of all walks of life at that time.
The best time to visit Dazu Rock Carvings is in the morning as it usually takes several hours to explore them.
The best months to visit are from April to October.
There are direct buses to Dazu District from Chongqing City. Therefore, there are several options.
- Rent a vehicle to Dazu Rock Carvings. This is the quickest and most direct option.
- Take a direct bus from Longtousi South Bus Station (龙头山汽车南站), Longtousi North Bus Station (龙头山汽车北站) and Caiyuanba Bus Station (菜园坝长途汽车站) in Chongqing to Dazu. The journey usually takes 1.5 hours. After arriving in Dazu, you could walk or hail a taxi to the North Mountain.
- Opening hours: 08:30 – 18:00 (visitors are not permitted to enter the scenic area from 17:30).
- Opening hours for Baoding Mountain: 08:30 – 16:30
- Opening hours for North Mountain: 09:00 – 17:30; night visit hours: 19:30 – 21:30.
- As at 23rd October 2020, between December and February, the entrance pricing to Baoding Mountain is 110 CNY per person the elder between 60 years old(60 years old included) and 64 years old(64 years old included) are charged 55 CNY per person, children between 1.2m tall (1.2 meters not included)and 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are charged 55 CNY per person, children under 1.2 meters (1.2 meters included) and 65 years old (65 years old included) are free of charge.
- Between December and February, the entrance pricing to North Mountain is 70 CNY per person the elder between 60 years old(60 years old included) and 64 years old(64 years old included) are charged 35 CNY per person, children between 1.2m tall (1.2 meters not included)and 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are charged 35 CNY per person, children under 1.2 meters (1.2 meters included) and 65 years old (65 years old included) are free of charge.
- Between December and February, the pass ticket pricing to North Mountain and Baoding Mountain is 120 CNY per person the elder between 60 years old(60 years old included) and 64 years old(64 years old included) are charged 60 CNY per person, children between 1.2m tall (1.2 meters not included)and 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are charged 60 CNY per person, children under 1.2 meters (1.2 meters included) and 65 years old (65 years old included) are free of charge.
- Between March and November, the entrance pricing to Baoding Mountain is 115 CNY per person the elder between 60 years old(60 years old included) and 64 years old(64 years old included) are charged 57.5 CNY per person, children between 1.2m tall (1.2 meters not included)and 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are charged 57.5 CNY per person, children under 1.2 meters (1.2 meters included) and 65 years old (65 years old included) are free of charge.
- Between March and November, the entrance pricing to North Mountain is 70 CNY per person the elder between 60 years old(60 years old included) and 64 years old(64 years old included) are charged 35 CNY per person, children between 1.2m tall (1.2 meters not included)and 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are charged 35 CNY per person, children under 1.2 meters (1.2 meters included) and 65 years old (65 years old included) are free of charge.
- Between March and November, the pass ticket pricing to North Mountain and Baoding Mountain is 140 CNY per person the elder between 60 years old(60 years old included) and 64 years old(64 years old included) are charged 70 CNY per person, children between 1.2m tall (1.2 meters not included)and 1.4m tall (1.4m tall not included) are charged 70 CNY per person, children under 1.2 meters (1.2 meters included) and 65 years old (65 years old included) are free of charge.
- For the latest pricing information, please contact us via email (info@wendyweitours.com)
- The pass ticket is valid for one time in two days. Other types of tickets are just valid for one time in one day.
Wendy Wei Tours offers a variety of different packaged tours as well as custom tours including the Dazu Rock Carvings, among other attractions and destinations. To find out more, please visit our Tours page or Contact Us directly to find out more.