[2025 Anyue Attraction] Travel Guide for Anyue Stone Carvings (Updated Apr)

There is a purely English introduction below the cultural relic protection stele at Anyue Dafo Temple (Gaosheng Giant Buddha), which clearly shows the international reach of this provincial cultural relic site. It is not open to the public, and visiting is a matter of luck. I personally enjoy visiting cultural relic sites that require some negotiation with the preservationists, as those that are not open are usually the best. This time, I was particularly fortunate to be able to "sneak" in with staff from the cultural preservation agency without having to "beg" the preservationists. 🗿About Gaosheng Giant Buddha Gaosheng refers to Gaosheng Township in Anyue County. There is a niche with statues of the Three Sages of Huayan from the Southern Song Dynasty. The Buddha statue is nearly 5 meters high, hence the name Giant Buddha. The preservationist told me that all the statues here are priceless, but I suspect some of the stone carvings are modern replicas. 📸Highlights ✅Statues of the Four Heavenly Kings: With wide, staring eyes, lion noses, and catfish mouths, their expressions are exaggerated. They wear phoenix-winged helmets, much like Southern Song Dynasty generals. ✅Three Sages of Huayan: Vairocana Buddha is in the center, with Manjushri and Samantabhadra on either side. The highlight is the crowns on the Buddha heads. Vairocana Buddha wears a willow crown, Samantabhadra wears a five-Buddha crown, and Manjushri wears a seven-Buddha crown. 🤷🏻‍♂️Some history This was originally a formal temple, but the monks were driven out and it was turned into a school. The hands of the Buddha statues were deliberately damaged. If it hadn't been converted into a school, it might have been destroyed. The last time I heard the word "destroyed" was at Tapo. The Anyue stone carvings have really suffered a lot, and it's a miracle that they have been preserved. 📌Tips: Search for "Dafo Temple" (Yuelin Road East, Gaosheng Township) on Baidu Maps. The road up the mountain is narrow, but keep driving forward. There is a parking lot in front of the temple. The preservationists are an elderly couple, and everyone in the village knows them. Visiting depends entirely on luck.

Anyue Rock Carvings Many caves are misnamed. The best part of Pilu Cave isn't the Pilu Buddha, but the Water Moon Guanyin. The best part of Yuanjue Cave isn't the Twelve Yuanjue, but One Buddha and Two Bodhisattvas. Yuanjue Cave is the most easily accessible of all the Anyue rock carvings. It's the kind of place where there are no traffic jams for self-driving, it's in the city center, and even buses can reach it. The "ancient, numerous, exquisite, and beautiful" qualities of Anyue rock carvings are concentrated in Yuanjue Cave. Before leaving Anyue, you must visit Yuanjue Cave. 🗿About Yuanjue Cave The statues are mainly from the Tang Dynasty, Five Dynasties, and Song Dynasty. Because the Yuanjue Cave inside was very famous in those years, it was named after it. But very ironically, in that special era, the heads of the Twelve Yuanjue were artificially destroyed, and now they are all replacements, which is very sad. 📸Highlights ✅Tang Pagoda: A Mi Yan-style pagoda that was very popular in the Tang Dynasty. ✅One Buddha and Two Bodhisattvas: One Buddha (Pinch-Flower Buddha) + Guanyin of the Holy Water Vase + Lotus Hand Guanyin. You can always trust the aesthetics of the Song Dynasty. They are incredibly beautiful. ✅Sudhana: Have you ever seen Sudhana with a beard who is getting on in years? ✅Apsaras: On both sides of the heads of Pinch-Flower Buddha and Guanyin of the Holy Water Vase. ✅Rock caves of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms: Below the cliff with the words "Turtle and Crane", the "Hell Transformation Niche", "Thousand Buddha Niche", and "Western Three Saints" are the most famous. 📌Tips: Go straight ahead from the "Turtle and Crane" cliff to the newly built imitation caves, which copy the famous rock caves in the safety zone. It is recommended not to waste your energy on the poorly made ones. But the good outweighs the bad. The CNY 28 ticket for Yuanjue Cave is really worth it.

| A Millennium Stone Carving Secret, Home to an Unsolved "Celestial Book Couplet." 🚩 Historical Significance Pilu Temple, located in Anyue County, Sichuan, was first built during the Later Shu period of the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms (Guangzheng 24th year), with a history of over a thousand years! It is not only an important site for Sichuan Esoteric Buddhism but also one of the core representatives of the "Anyue Stone Carvings," boasting 465 exquisite statues, including the famous Liu Benzun's "Ten Refinements" grotto. It tells the story of layman Liu Benzun's arduous cultivation to become a Buddha in the late Tang Dynasty. There are only three such sites in the country, making it extremely precious! 🔍 Mysterious "Celestial Book Couplet" Outside the temple, there are two couplets. Legend has it that one who can match the second line will receive a treasure! The first couplet has been deciphered: "Neither outside nor inside nor in the middle" matches "Not a celestial nor a Buddha nor a thing," full of Zen wisdom. However, the second couplet remains unsolved to this day. The characters resemble "bird and animal script" or "dragon and phoenix script," leaving even experts scratching their heads, making it one of the most difficult couplets in China! 🎨 Pinnacle of Stone Carving Art The Thousand Buddha Cave in Pilu Temple is incredibly stunning! The 316 small Buddha statues in the circular niches are engraved with the names of the donors, each holding different objects, full of secular interest. The main Buddha, the Three Saints of Huayan (or the Three Saints of the West), is solemn and exquisite, with flowing robes and delicate jewelry. The Song Dynasty carving technique reached its peak, earning it the reputation of being "ancient, numerous, exquisite, and beautiful." 💡 Travel Tips - 📍 Address: Youping Village, Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Sichuan - 🎫 Ticket Price: CNY 20 (including three incense sticks) - 🕒 Best Time to Visit: Spring and autumn, avoid the hot summer - 📸 Must-See: Liu Benzun's Ten Refinements Grotto, Purple Bamboo Guanyin, Thousand Buddha Cave ✨ Summary Pilu Temple is not just a temple but a three-dimensional history of Buddhist art! Mysterious couplets, millennium stone carvings, treasure legends… every step is like deciphering history. If you love cultural exploration, this place is definitely worth a special trip!

Friends, I can't believe more people don't know about Anyue in Sichuan! I thought it was just a place famous for lemons🍋, but I had no idea it held so many exquisite Buddhist statues. It's a seriously underrated treasure! The Dazu Rock Carvings are renowned, like meticulously crafted pieces from an imperial kiln. Anyue's stone carvings, however, are like hidden gems from a folk kiln. They represent the aesthetics of the Song Dynasty, with an untouched, raw, and "wild" nature, scattered throughout the region, waiting to be discovered. Don't want to deal with crowds during the May Day holiday? Anyue is the perfect choice! There aren't many tourists, the atmosphere is serene, and it's especially suitable for bringing children to experience the rich history and culture. 📍 Pilu Cave Stone Carvings Pilu Cave is actually a collective term for Pilu Cave, Youju Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, and Guanyin Hall. Currently, there are 465 cliffside stone carvings and 32 inscriptions preserved. Each statue is a masterpiece of Song Dynasty Buddhist art, possessing extremely high value for both historical research and tourism. 🚗 Transportation is super convenient, it only takes about 2 hours to drive from Chengdu to Anyue. ✅ Other must-see stone carvings in Anyue: 1. Mingshan Temple: The cliff carvings boast smooth lines, showing a simple and elegant charm after years of weathering. 2. Anyue Stone Carvings Yuangjue Cave Scenic Area: It integrates stone carving art and natural scenery, creating a breathtaking spectacle. 3. Huayan Cave Stone Carvings: The carvings inside the cave are magnificent, and the story scenes depicted on the cave walls are incredibly lifelike. 4. Peacock Cave: Its unique carving style stands out among the numerous stone carvings. 5. Anyue Tapo Carvings: Niche and exquisite, it offers a unique and tranquil beauty. 6. Thousand Buddha Temple: The sheer number and scale of the Buddha statues are awe-inspiring. 7. Reclining Buddha Monastery: The spectacular reclining Buddha statue showcases a profound Buddhist cultural heritage. 8. Dazu Rock Carvings: About an hour's drive from Anyue, it's also world-famous and worth a visit!

Journey Back in Time—Anyue Stone Carvings 📖Anyue Stone Carvings: The Anyue stone carvings originated in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (around 521 AD), flourished during the Tang, Five Dynasties, and Song Dynasties, and have a history of 1,300 years. Recent cultural relic surveys have revealed 105 cliff stone carving sites in the county, with about 100,000 statues. There are over 100 statues taller than 3 meters, more than 40 over 5 meters, two over 15 meters, and 45 sites with relatively well-preserved stone carvings of a certain scale and cultural relic value. The Anyue stone carvings are uniquely crafted and exquisitely beautiful, fully embodying the crystallization of the wisdom and wealth of the Anyue people, as well as their superb skills and ingenious design capabilities. 🏮Statue Art: The subjects are mostly Buddhist and Taoist statues. Most of them are works from the mature and prosperous periods of Chinese stone carving art and have high artistic value. Except for a few statues with the simple and rough style of the Wei and Jin Dynasties, most of them feature the plump and elegant Tang Dynasty style. Anyue is currently the county with the most concentrated ancient Chinese Buddhist statue sites known in China. To date, 200 sites with over 100,000 statues from various dynasties have been discovered, among which the magnificent Tang Dynasty statues and the exquisite Song Dynasty statues are particularly renowned. 🌟Key Guide: There are nine sites in Anyue County listed as national key cultural relic protection units: Reclining Buddha Temple, Xuanmiao Temple, Thousand Buddha Village, Yuanjue Cave, Huayan Cave, Pilu Cave, Mingshan Temple, Peacock Cave, and Mumen Temple. ⏳Tour Route Arrangement: The Anyue stone carvings are scattered throughout Anyue County. A 2–3 day visit is recommended. Day 1: Reclining Buddha Temple, Mumen Temple (north of the county seat), Yuanjue Cave (within Anyue County seat) Day 2: Shiyang Town, Anyue County: Pilu Cave, Mingshan Temple, Huayan Cave, Peacock Cave 🚉Transportation Guide: Self-driving or chartered car is the best way to visit.

Anyue is known as the Buddhist Capital of China. Ancient Buddha statues are scattered throughout the county. It is the county with the highest concentration of ancient Chinese Buddhist statue sites and is also one of the filming locations for the recently popular Black Wukong game. ▫️ Unfortunately, Shanxi's ancient monuments became popular because of the Black Wukong game, but Anyue stone carvings have remained unknown. Anyue stone carvings have rich themes, including flying apsaras, celestial musicians, Buddha statues, etc., showing the ancient high artistic level and religious and cultural charm. Anyue ancient Buddha statues are scattered throughout the county, and it takes at least two days to visit them. ▫️ Route planning: Day 1: Reclining Buddha Temple - Thousand Buddha Temple - Yuanjue Cave - Stay in Anyue County Day 2: Pilu Cave - Huayan Cave - Mingshan Temple - Peacock Cave ▫️ Recommended attractions: [RedHeart] Reclining Buddha Temple: China's largest full-body stone reclining Buddha statue from the Tang Dynasty. It is the earliest and most complete full-body reclining Buddha statue in the country. [RedHeart] Yuanjue Cave: The closest attraction to the county seat, with the three most spectacular Buddha statues of Guanyin in the Pure Bottle, Guanyin in the Lotus Hand, and Sakyamuni. [RedHeart] Pilu Cave: Water Moon Guanyin (also known as Purple Bamboo Guanyin), known as the "Venus of the East". [RedHeart] Mingshan Temple: An ancient temple hidden deep in the mountains. The Buddha statues on the cliffs are particularly stunning and have become one of the filming locations for Black Wukong. Among them, the weathered Buddha statues have a more natural and artistic feel. [RedHeart] Peacock Cave: A small cave with a very exquisite statue of Peacock King Buddha. Because it has survived to this day as a kitchen for later generations, the existing Buddha statue looks dark. Behind the Peacock Cave there is an abandoned temple from the Qing Dynasty that is worth a visit. Inside the abandoned temple is a stone pagoda from the late Tang Dynasty. ▫️ [Airplane]Play suggestions: [One] Currently, all Anyue Stone Carvings attractions are free to visit. Among them, the Reclining Buddha Temple, Yuanjue Cave, Pilu Cave, and Huayan Cave are free of charge until March 31, 2025, and the admission fee is also cheap, about 10 yuan per person. [Two] Anyue stone carvings are scattered throughout the county. If you have enough time, it is recommended to travel slowly by car. If you follow this route to visit Anyue Rock Carvings, you can go directly to the more famous Dazu Rock Carvings, which is very close. [Three] Peacock Cave is on the side of the road and it is difficult to park. You need to find a parking space in advance. The door is usually locked for protection. If you want to visit, you need to ask the uncle who lives next door to help open the door for free. ▫️ 🚗Transportation strategy: [Car] Self-driving: Self-driving is the quickest way to travel. It is recommended to start from the north to the south of Anyue County. [Bus] You can take the bus. You can buy bus tickets on the Princess "Anyue Travel" to go to various attractions. Anyue-Wofo Town bus (visit the Reclining Buddha Temple), fare is 9 yuan. Anyue-Shiyang Town bus (visit Pilu Cave, Huayan Cave, Mingshan Temple, Peacock Cave), fare 12. To visit the Thousand Buddha Temple and Yuanjue Cave in Anyue County, you can take Anyue Bus No. 6 and Bus No. 5 respectively, and the fare is 1 yuan. Note: Except for the Thousand Buddha Temple and Yuanjue Cave, you need to take a taxi to the other attractions instead of taking the bus to the town. ▫️ [IceCream] Food recommendation: ✅Anyue lemon: As the hometown of lemons in China, how can we miss this? Not only is the quality good, but it is also very cheap. There are many street vendors selling goods at 2 yuan per pound. ✅Anyue Rice Rolls: The rice rolls are crystal clear, lightly wrapped in red oil, and have a bright and attractive color.

The song "Stone Carvings of Anyue" gives a comprehensive introduction to the Anyue Stone Carvings, describing them as "winding through the brushstrokes of the Tang and Song Dynasties, flowing for thousands of years, and falling into the caves of Yuanjue, the Zen temple of the Reclining Buddha, and the flying necklaces..." Let's follow the song and explore the charm of the stone carvings! 🚗🚗 A 2-day self-driving itinerary to Anyue Stone Carvings: Day 1: Depart from downtown Chengdu and take the Chengdu-Ziyang-Chongqing Expressway to Huayan Cave Stone Carvings, a total distance of 216 km, about 2 hours and 40 minutes by car. Stop for lunch at Shiyang Town, Anyue County, and then visit Huayan Cave and Pilu Cave. Stay overnight in Anyue County. Day 2: Wake up naturally and take a stroll around Anyue County. Have brunch in the county and then set off. Drive for about 15 minutes to reach Yuanjue Cave Scenic Area. Then return to Chengdu, about 2 hours and 10 minutes by car. 🌟🌟 Highlights: ✅ Huayan Cave, built in the Song Dynasty, is a mountain-type tourist area where stone carvings and nature are integrated. The highlight is the "Three Saints of Huayan in the Song Dynasty", which is tall and majestic. 📍Address: Xianggai Mountain, Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Ziyang ✅ Pilu Cave, the graceful Purple Bamboo Guanyin statue is the "star" here, known as the "Oriental Venus", and it really lives up to its name. 📍Address: Tazi Mountain, Youping Village, Shiyang Town, Anyue County, Ziyang ✅ Yuanjue Cave, the Guanyin with a clean bottle, the Guanyin with a lotus hand, Shakyamuni, and the Twelve Yuanjue Bodhisattvas are all worth seeing. In addition to stone carving art, you can also visit the Qin Jiushao Memorial Hall. 📍Address: Yunju Mountain, southeast of Anyue County, Ziyang 📝📝 Travel tips: ✅ Admission to the above attractions is free until March 31, 2025. ✅ Anyue has many delicious foods, such as sad cold noodles and Anyue rice rolls. ✅ Be civilized when visiting the stone carvings, and do not touch or carve the cultural relics. 📣Thank you for your likes❤️, favorites, and follows. You can find more notes on my homepage🔍 Anyue 2-day tour｜Self-driving tour｜Itinerary

These places are the Thousand Buddha Cliff, Pilu Cave Scenic Area and Mingshan Temple, which are one of the locations of Black Myth Goku. Among them, the Buddha statue of Mingshan Temple is particularly beautiful and extremely characteristic. The water moon Guanyin inside the Pilu cave is a very characteristic place. Thousand Buddha Temple is one of the Black Myth Goku filming location, the location is more remote, you can go to the park after the decision to go to the Thousand Buddha Temple more like an unknown, very secret a temple in the monks practice, the environment is particularly quiet, very deep are a gathering place of the Black Myth Goku spider spirit.

Carved on three large stones in the shape of the Chinese character "品", there are 19 statues, 12 of which are on the first stone. The first statue was modified in modern times, but the canopy above the statue should be from the Tang or Song dynasty. The second statue is a Tang or Song dynasty dry Buddha statue, with a small statue in the middle. The fourth statue depicts the Western Pure Land, with a central Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, two disciples between the Buddha and Bodhisattvas, and scripture pillars and stone pagodas on both sides. Above the canopy are pavilions. The fifth statue has three Buddhas in the middle and 50 Buddhas around the outside. The sixth statue is a thousand-armed Guanyin. The seventh, eighth, and ninth statues are damaged. The tenth statue is a Buddha and two Bodhisattvas. The eleventh statue is a female deity and two female attendants. The twelfth statue is a ten-direction Buddha in the late Tang style.

Anyue is known as the county with the most ancient Buddhist statues in China, with most of them being grand or exquisite statues from the Tang and Song dynasties. There are currently 368 grottoes and over 100,000 statues. 🍂 The Anyue Stone Carvings are not in a single scenic area, but are scattered around. A 2-day trip is recommended. South Route: Peacock Cave - Mingshan Temple - Huayan Cave - Pilu Temple North Route: Reclining Buddha Temple - Mumen Temple - Qianfo Village - Yuanjue Cave - Tapo 🍂 Travel Tips Self-driving or chartering a car is the most convenient way to travel, as some roads are narrow and difficult to pass. The roads on the south route are relatively poor, and there is no parking lot at Peacock Cave. Huayan Cave is a scenic area, but the restrooms are closed. The parking lot at Pilu Temple is small. On the north route, it is easy to get lost at Tapo, and there is a section of road under construction at Mumen Temple. The roads at these two places are poor. Reclining Buddha Temple and Yuanjue Cave are large scenic areas, and the parking fee at Yuanjue Cave is expensive. The south and north routes are centered around Anyue County. If you depart from Dazu, the south route is closer, and if you depart from Chengdu, the north route is closer. 🍂 A Brief Introduction to the Stone Carvings (Personal Preference) Peacock Cave 🌟🌟 (14) The gatekeeper needs to open the door for you. There are only the Peacock King statue and a Tang dynasty pagoda on the mountain. It was preserved because it was behind a villager's kitchen. Mingshan Temple 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (7-9) A large stone carving from the Northern Song dynasty, with "traces of time" due to weathering. Huayan Cave 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (16, 17) The Huayan Trinity from the Song dynasty, with the beautiful Avalokitesvara. Pilu Temple 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (1, 2) The most beautiful Avalokitesvara with a purple bamboo and moon, and the Liu Benzun Ten Refinements Cave. Reclining Buddha Temple 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (18) The largest full-body stone carving of a reclining Buddha from the Tang dynasty in China, and the only one lying on the left side. The scenic area is beautifully built. Mumen Temple 🌟🌟🌟 (19) A pagoda is built inside the pavilion, and a hall is built outside the pavilion, with a wooden structure. Qianfo Village 🌟🌟🌟🌟 (12, 13, 15) There are 15 filming locations for Black Wukong‼️ Yuanjue Cave 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 (3-6) Three 6-meter-high statues of Avalokitesvara with a pure bottle, Avalokitesvara with a lotus hand, and a large statue of Shakyamuni, which are very impressive. Tapo 🌟🌟🌟 (10, 11, 20) The most beautiful Huayan Trinity statue, but you need to look through the window, as it is not open yet.

| An'yue Stone Carvings, the Home of Chinese Stone Carvings. Ancient grottoes, a Chinese treasure🏆 I went to An'yue, Sichuan to start👀 A cultural experience of the grottoes🚗 Just for a statue of the Purple Bamboo Guanyin🙏 Location📍: An'yue Stone Carvings, An'yue County, Ziyang City Tickets🎫: Yuanjue Cave (CNY 28), Qianfo Village (Free), Wofu Temple (CNY 10), Pilu Cave (CNY 18), Huayan Cave (CNY 10), Mingshan Temple (Free), Peacock Cave (Free) 🚗Transportation: Self-driving. About 2.5 hours from Chengdu. The last section of the mountain road is narrow, so drive slowly. Free parking is available in the open space next to the scenic area. ✅Recommended Route Day 1 North Line: Wofu Temple → Mumen Temple → Yuanjue Cave → Qianfo Village → Stay in the county Day 2 East Line: Tapo → Pilu Cave → Huayan Cave → Mingshan Temple → Peacock Cave → Return ⭐In comparison, the East Line is more amazing. If you only have one day, you can choose the East Line, leave early, and come back in the afternoon to visit Yuanjue Cave, which is very close to the county. You can get there by taxi for only CNY 8. [Scenery Recommendation]: Friends who like stone carvings will definitely love it💯. Other friends can take photos and experience the craftsmanship of the artisans. It is also worth visiting, and the stone carvings are very photogenic📷. 📍⛰️Mingshan Temple: Visit Mingshan Temple. The statues have been weathered by wind and rain for thousands of years, and the wind erosion marks are severe. Under the dual carving of time and wind, they have a strong abstract beauty. Here you can see the "shape of the wind." 📌Peacock Cave🦚: The statue of the Peacock King in the cave is elegant and well-preserved. There are ruins of the Tang Dynasty "Baoguo Temple" on the mountainside behind the cave, and a Tang Dynasty high platform stone pagoda, which is rare among stone pagodas in Sichuan Province. (Peacock Cave is a cultural relic protection area and is not fully open yet. You may not be able to enter, please be aware.) 📍Pilu Cave: The "Liu Benzun Ten Refinements" carved in the cave is illustrated. The statue of the "Purple Bamboo Guanyin" in the Guanyin Hall is famous at home and abroad and is called the "Oriental Venus" by the famous British writer Han Suyin. 📌Huayan Cave: The scenic area has two large grottoes, Huayan Cave and Dabanruo Cave, which are models of Chinese statue art in the Song Dynasty. 📌Tips: 1. These grottoes in An'yue are all in the village and have no proper toilets. It is recommended to drink less water during the trip. 2. The mountain roads are rugged and narrow, so be careful when driving, or rent a car locally. ⭐Accommodation: The hotels in An'yue County are in good condition.

Anyue Rock Carvings were first carved during the Northern and Southern Dynasties and were popular during the Tang and Song Dynasties. They inherited the Yungang and Longmen Rock Carvings and preceded the Dazu Rock Carvings. Unlike the large-scale royal grottoes in the north, the grottoes in Sichuan and Chongqing were mainly excavated by civilian forces. They integrate folk stories with Buddhist and Taoist culture and are a reflection of the secular aesthetics of the time. There is a small temple on the Peacock Cave Mountain. In the temple there is a small Tang Dynasty pagoda. The temple is in ruins, but the pagoda is still there. There is a cowshed in front of the hall. Sweet sauerkraut is in full bloom in the yard. When the breeze blows, the small petals fly around. The fragrance of sweet osmanthus fills the yard, mixed with the smell of cow dung and green grass. The stone carvings of Mingshan Temple are on the side of the cliff. Looking over from the railing, you can see the lush greenery of the entire mountain and hear the noisy chirping of insects and birds. The stone Buddha statue has stood quietly for thousands of years, but it allows us to see the wind blowing from the Song Dynasty. The cultural relics protection uncle of Mingshan Temple has been interviewed many times. We first knew about Anyue stone carvings because of his interviews, but the life of the protection guard is still simple and hard. The most surprising thing is the Tapo Cliff Carvings, a provincial protected site. It was a hot summer when we arrived, and everyone went in sweating and fanning themselves. Although I didn’t catch the sunset, I was still speechless by the beauty of the statues of the Three Holy Avatamsaka in the cave. The stone sculpture of Purple Bamboo Guanyin in Pilu Cave is known as the "Oriental Venus". The small statues of donors in the Pilu Cave are very cute. They are in various postures, and three of them are taking a nap, which are very lifelike. The Lotus-Handed Guanyin statue in Yuanjue Cave and the Twelve Bodhisattvas of Yuanjue in Huayan Cave made the trip to Anyue to visit ancient sites without much preparation, but it was very touching. I always remember the words: the giant Buddha rose from the clouds. It was originally in the air, but was seen by the world through the hands of the sculptor. ✅Road conditions: The road conditions were good throughout the journey and cars could pass smoothly. ❗️There is a very steep slope near the tower slope, and the road is very narrow (p7 ❗️You can go to Mingshan Temple later, there is no ticket. If you encounter a lot of people in the last section, it is difficult to miss the bus and you will be stuck in a long queue. ✅Route Chengdu➠🛻2.5 hours➠Reclining Buddha Temple➠🛻40 minutes➠Yuanjue Cave➠🛻1 hour➠Tapo➠🛻25 minutes➠Bilu Cave➠🛻15 minutes➠Huayan Cave➠🛻20 minutes➠(Peacock Cave)➠Mingshan Temple

The Yuanjue Cave Scenic Area is located on Yunju Mountain, 1 kilometer southeast of Anyue County, Sichuan Province. It is a national AAAA tourist attraction and a national key cultural relics protection unit. There are currently 103 grottoes and 1933 statues, most of which were made during the Tang, Five Dynasties, and Song periods. The most spectacular are the three large statues of Sakyamuni, Guanyin with a vase, and Guanyin with a lotus hand, each over 6 meters high. Destination: Anyue Stone Carvings - Yuanjue Cave. 🚘Transportation: Buses in Anyue County, taxis are also available (online car-hailing in Anyue is super cheap) 👣Play time: 3 hours 💰Tickets and parking: Free tickets! Most of the scenic spots can be parked. ⛺Driving & Scenic Spot Strategy: Yuanjue Cave is located in Anyue County, with most of the statues made during the Tang, Five Dynasties, and Song periods. It is named after the twelve "Yuanjue", that is, "you are enlightened, I am enlightened, he is enlightened, and the enlightened person is perfect", implying that everyone can be enlightened to become a Buddha, emphasizing the universality of Buddhist thought and practice. Among them, the three Buddha statues of Sakyamuni, Guanyin with a vase, and Guanyin with a lotus hand are the most spectacular. 📍Guanyin with a vase The eyes of Guanyin with a vase are half-open and half-closed, and she wears a hollow crown on her head. The crown is very delicate and gorgeous (this is also a major feature of the crown carving of Anyue stone carvings). There is a flying sky at the top of the left and right sides of the grotto. The flying sky on the left, wrapped in a dynamic ribbon, holds a mandala flower, symbolizing eternal life. The flying sky on the right has a solemn face, holding a lotus bud in his hand, and has the most Buddhist pure land color. 📍Guanyin with a lotus hand The lotus is a purification tool, representing the meaning of universal salvation. This Guanyin with a lotus hand was made during the Northern Song Dynasty. The main statue holds a lotus, wears a crown, has a beautiful face, and is solemn. 📍Sakyamuni The largest standing Buddha statue in China (Northern Song Dynasty), with dense snails on the top of the head, wearing a Buddha robe, and stepping on a lotus seat. He looks at his disciple Kassapa on the lower right, which is quite interesting.

Anyue County in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province is located in the middle of the Sichuan Basin, at the midpoint of the line connecting Chengdu and Chongqing. However, Anyue has not developed due to its geographical location and is still an unknown agricultural county. Anyue is a large county in terms of population, with a permanent population of about 930,000 and hundreds of thousands of floating population. Anyue County has a product that is unique in China, that is, lemon, which accounts for about 80% of the total national output. After we arrived in Anyue, we found that another thing worth mentioning in Anyue is the ancient stone carvings. Speaking of grottoes, people naturally think of places with large scale and concentrated statues, such as Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes, and Longmen Grottoes. Mogao Grottoes are mainly statues and murals, and the latter two are stone carvings. We visited the Ming Mountain Temple, Huayan Cave, Pilu Cave, Reclining Buddha Temple, and Yuanjue Cave in Anyue in one day. The stone carvings we saw were exquisite. From a technical point of view, there are new developments and improvements based on the Yungang and Longmen stone carvings, such as realistic techniques and hollowing techniques. Although the attached photos were taken with a mobile phone, the exquisiteness of the Anyue stone carvings can still be seen. More than 100 years after the heyday of Anyue stone carvings, Dazu stone carvings reached their peak.

Today, I recommend a very hidden and niche travel destination 【Anyue Stone Carvings】. Not to mention outsiders, many Sichuan locals haven't heard of it either. But the artistic value and sensory experience here are absolutely outstanding. Spend 1-2 days here over the weekend, and you will be absolutely amazed. I feel it's unfair for Anyue Stone Carvings; it deserves to be seen by more people. Due to the thousand-year exposure to the wind, the carvings bear the marks of the wind. The traces of thousands of years have formed the shape of the wind, which is very impressive. 🚘About Transportation 🚘: It takes about 2 hours to drive from Chongqing/Chengdu, mostly on highways; there are also 🚌 buses from Chengdu/Chongqing to Anyue. Recommended 2-day tour itinerary Day1️⃣: Chongqing - Peacock Cave - Mingshan Temple - Huayan Cave - Pilu Cave - Tapo - Stay in Anyue County Day2️⃣: Yuanjue Cave - Qianfo Village - Mumen Temple - Wofoyuan - Return ⏰If time permits, you can also visit Dazu Rock Carvings along the way. Worth visiting along the way 🔘Mingshan Temple 🎫Ticket: Free🆓 🔴Dozens of cliff carvings are sculpted on the sheer cliffs, mostly starting from the Song Dynasty. The traces of thousands of years of weathering give it a unique 'beauty of erosion'. 🔘Peacock Cave 🎫Ticket: Free🆓 🔴Mainly excavated in the Song Dynasty, the stunning Peacock Mingwang statue, and a rare well-preserved Song Dynasty stone pagoda at the top of the mountain. 🔘Huayan Cave 🎫Ticket: 10💴 🔴The 'Three Saints of Huayan' inside are meticulously arranged, and the carvings are incredibly exquisite. 🔘Pilu Cave 🎫Ticket: 18💴 🔴Featuring the Zizhu Guanyin, known as the Oriental Venus, and the Ten Practices of Liu Benzun, all are rare masterpieces of Song Dynasty stone carving art. 🔘Tapo 🎫Ticket: Free🆓 🔴The Three Saints of Huayan inside are considered the most beautiful Buddha statues of the Northern Song Dynasty. Just a glance through the door crack can heal you with the power of human and Buddhist compassion. 🔘Yuanjue Cave 🎫Ticket: 28💴 🔴Originating from the Tang and Song Dynasties, named after the Twelve Yuanjue Stone Caves, it is probably the most developed and well-protected site in Anyue. 🔘Qianfo Village 🎫Ticket: Free🆓 🔴Named after the more than 3,000 Buddha statues on the cliff walls. Unfortunately, it was under renovation and not open for visits when we went. 🔘Wofoyuan 🎫Ticket: 10💴 🔴Originating from the flourishing Tang Dynasty, the cliff walls hold a large number of stone carvings and Buddhist scriptures. The 'Left Reclining Buddha' suspended between giant rocks is novel and exquisite. 🔘Mumen Temple 🎫Ticket: Free🆓 🔘Located on the way to Wofoyuan, unlike other scattered rural grottoes, it houses the True Body Relic Pagoda hidden deep in the mountains. Travel🧳TIPS ✔️Most of the Anyue Stone Carvings are scattered in the countryside, so it's better to drive. ✔️For non-driving tourists, it's recommended to hire a vehicle; one person can hire a motorcycle. ✔️There are many narrow paths along the way, so be sure to honk in advance while driving.

Depart from the county town - Yuanjue Cave - Qianfozhai - Wofu Temple 1️⃣ First went to Yuanjue Cave in the county town, the ticket price is 28 yuan per person🌟 The scenic area is well developed, more like a park, just keep walking up and you can see the cliff carvings 2️⃣ Qianfozhai has no admission fee🌟🌟🌟 This is the most worthwhile place to go on the north line, in my opinion. It feels like a forest park, and the Buddha statues entwined by tree roots make this place more charming and mysterious. It takes about 50 minutes to stroll around leisurely 🚗 Just navigate directly to Qianfozhai, and you can park for free in the yard 3️⃣ Wofu Temple ticket is 10 yuan per person🌟🌟 The 23-meter-long Nirvana image of Sakyamuni is very spectacular, and it is also the largest left-side reclining Buddha existing in China ⚠️ Note: The entrance to the parking lot at the gate is very narrow, SUVs can squeeze onto the side flowerbed to drive in, cars need to pay more attention 🌟 Summary: In two days, I visited 8 ancient sites. If you don't have enough time and can't visit them all, then I suggest you definitely shouldn't miss the following places📍Pilu Cave 📍Mingshan Temple 📍Tapo 📍Qianfozhai 📍Wofu Temple These few spots are my favorite places after touring for two days, each with its own characteristics! If you are not too far from Anyue, then you must visit this small city!

Touching the Flow of a Millennium.🌟 Anyue Stone Carvings: The Brilliant Treasure of a Thousand Years of Art ✔️During the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago, craftsmen meticulously carved on this land, leaving behind countless astonishing stone carvings. ✔️They excavated 20 niches, totaling a length of 118 meters. Today, 465 cliff stone carvings still remain, scattered across places like Pilu Cave, Youju Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, Guanyin Hall, and Jade Emperor Pavilion. In addition, there are 18 stele inscriptions, 10 cliff tombs, and 2 Buddhist pagodas, together forming the magnificent landscape of the 'New Landmark of the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor'. ✅Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit these millennial artworks. At this time, the sky is clear and the sun shines obliquely, making the contours of the stone carvings clearly visible against the sky, as if history and reality are intertwined, presenting an overwhelmingly beautiful scene. 🚗It takes about 2 hours to drive from Chengdu to reach Anyue 📝Recommended Anyue Stone Carving Sites: 🔹Mingshan Temple 🔹Anyue Stone Carvings Yuanjue Cave Scenic Area 🔹Huayan Cave Stone Carvings 🔹Peacock Cave 🔹Anyue Tapo Carvings 🔹Thousand Buddha Temple 🔹Wofo Temple 🔹It's also worth taking a look at the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are about an hour's drive from Anyue!

Anyue Stone Carvings, located in Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, are hailed as a 'treasury of ancient Chinese carving art', known for their grand scale, rich themes, and exquisite craftsmanship. This group of stone carvings, hidden deep in the hills of central Sichuan, spans the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, witnessing the blending and development of Buddhist and Taoist cultures! 🍀 Must-visit attractions: ① Xuanmiao Temple A national key cultural relic protection site, it was built between the 6th year of the Kaiyuan era and the 7th year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty. Its uniqueness lies in the *Buddha-Taoist niches*, where Laozi and Sakyamuni are ingeniously carved together in the same grotto, showing a historical scene of religious harmony. The most eye-catching is the sculpture of Laozi herding cattle, vividly recreating the life scene of the Taoist founder, which is breathtaking. ② Reclining Buddha Temple Centered around a 23-meter-long full-body stone-carved reclining Buddha from the Tang Dynasty, it is the largest full-body reclining Buddha statue of the Tang Dynasty in the country. The Buddha's expression is serene, with smooth lines, surrounded by many exquisite cliff carvings and inscriptions, creating a solemn and serene atmosphere for meditation. ③ Yuanjue Cave As the essence of Anyue Stone Carvings, Yuanjue Cave is famous for its intricate layout and delicate carvings. The cave is filled with lifelike statues of Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and others, especially the twelve Yuanjue Bodhisattvas, whose dignified demeanor and elegant drapery are considered the epitome of Song Dynasty stone carving art. 🍀 Detailed address: Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province. The specific stone carving sites are distributed in different townships within the county, such as Xuanmiao Temple in Tongxian Town, Reclining Buddha Temple in Wofu Town, Yuanjue Cave in Yueyang Town, etc. It is recommended to use navigation software for precise positioning. 🍀 Transportation strategy: ① Self-driving: Depart from Chengdu and travel about 150 kilometers along the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway or Chengdu-Anshun-Chongqing Expressway to reach Anyue County, then follow the navigation to the stone carving sites. ② Public transportation: First take the high-speed train to Ziyang North Station, then transfer to a long-distance bus to Anyue County, and then choose local taxis or chartered cars to the stone carving scenic areas. Some popular attractions like Yuanjue Cave are accessible by public bus routes. 🍀 Food recommendations: ① Anyue Rice Rolls: A local specialty snack made from high-quality rice, steamed to a fine and smooth texture, served with spicy or sour and spicy sauce, delicious and not to be missed. ② Lemon Feast: Anyue is known as the 'Hometown of Chinese Lemons'. Local restaurants have innovatively launched a lemon feast that incorporates lemon elements into various dishes, such as lemon fish, lemon chicken, lemon ribs, etc., which are sour, sweet, appetizing, and refreshing. 🍀 Recommended nearby attractions: ① Mingshan Temple Carvings: About 30 kilometers away from Anyue County, it is dominated by Tang Dynasty cliff carvings, especially the magnificent Medicine Buddha and Thousand-Handed Guanyin. ② Huayan Cave: Not far from Yuanjue Cave, the cave houses a grand Huayan Three Saints statue and many exquisite stone carvings, another masterpiece of Song Dynasty grotto art. ③ Lezhi Baoguo Temple: Located in Lezhi County adjacent to Anyue County, it is a long-standing Buddhist temple with a tranquil environment, ancient trees reaching to the sky, and a great place for quiet contemplation, worship, and leisurely health preservation.

🍋 Located in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, Anyue is well-known to those who appreciate historical stone carvings, earning it the nickname 'Capital of Buddhist Sculpture in China'. ✈️ The statues in Anyue County were created during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, particularly famous for the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty statues and the exquisite craftsmanship of the Song Dynasty statues. Tour route: Reclining Buddha Temple - Huayan Cave - Pilu Cave - Yuanjue Cave The cliff carvings at the Reclining Buddha Temple were mainly excavated during the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan to Dali period, featuring the Nirvana of Sakyamuni, Sakyamuni Preaching, and the Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara, among others. The reclining Buddha is 23 meters long, the largest full-body Tang Dynasty stone carving of a reclining Buddha in the country. Huayan Cave was carved in the Southern Song Dynasty and consists of two grottoes with 159 statues from the Song Dynasty, many of which are missing heads. Pilu Cave is most famous for its Water Moon Avalokitesvara, considered the pinnacle of Anyue stone carvings, praised by British Chinese writer Han Suyin as the 'Purple Bamboo Avalokitesvara' of the East. Yuanjue Cave is located on Yunju Mountain in the Jinhua Community of Yuecheng Street, Anyue County, 1 kilometer southeast of the county town, with direct access via National Highway 247. The site has a profound historical and cultural heritage, with stone carvings dating back to the Tang Dynasty, flourishing during the Five Dynasties and Northern Song Dynasty. It was named for the 'Twelve Yuanjue' carvings excavated during the Northern Song period, concentrated on the cliffs south and north of Yunju Mountain. The carving area is 186 meters long, with 103 cliff niches, 1933 statues of various sizes, and 25 inscriptions and steles, including a Tang Dynasty pagoda. 🍋 Besides being the 'Capital of Buddhist Sculpture in China', Anyue is also known as the 'Lemon Capital of China'. The Baosen Lemon Tourist Area is the largest lemon-themed tourist area in the country. The World Lemon Development Conference is held here annually. In Anyue, you can witness the spectacular sight of thousands of acres of lemon plantations and unlock the secrets of 25 major lemon varieties from around the world in the World Lemon Variety Expo Park. 🍽️ When it comes to food, Anyue Times Square has it all, with a variety of snacks available, including the highly recommended 'Heartbroken Jelly Noodles'. 🏨 As for accommodation, there are brand hotels like Vienna Hotel and upscale options like Mingshi.

The fragrance of lemons here is overwhelming, and upon arrival, it feels as if even the air has become sweeter with a hint of lemon🍋 The stone carving art here is even more astonishing, as if traveling back to a thousand years ago Let's explore the hometown of lemons - Anyue together~ First stop, Baosen Lemon Tourism Area! This is the largest lemon-themed scenic area in the country. It's like walking into the kingdom of lemons, with the fresh aroma hitting you in the face. Don't forget to taste the explosively sour lemons that instantly refresh and invigorate your mind🍋 🏞️Attraction Recommendations 1️⃣ Wofo Temple The Wofo Temple cliff carvings were mainly excavated during the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan to Dali years, and it has the largest full-body stone carving of a reclining Buddha from the Tang Dynasty on the left side. Roaming the Anyue Wofo Temple, one can smile at the sight of thousands of Buddhas lying in the clouds! The Buddha statues are lifelike, as if they are all napping, truly embodying a 'Buddha-like' attitude to the extreme! The stone carving art here is ingenious and definitely worth a visit. 2️⃣ Anyue Yuanjue Cave Located on Yunju Mountain, 1 kilometer southeast of Anyue County, it is named after the Buddhist cliff carvings of the 'Yuanjue Cave' excavated during the Northern Song Dynasty. The mountain here is steep, and the cave scenery is peculiar, as if stepping into a mythological world! Every step is a new discovery, every glance a new surprise! 3️⃣ Pilu Cave The famous Purple Bamboo Guanyin statue and the only Sichuan Esoteric Buddhism site in the country are located here. Setting foot on this land is like traveling through a time tunnel, conversing with the ancients. The stone carving skills are exquisite and detailed, filled with historical and cultural heritage, and are very worth visiting for study and observation~ 🍜About Food 1️⃣ Zhou Li's Heartbreaking Cold Noodles Heartbreaking Cold Noodles maintain the characteristics of Sichuan flavor, with spiciness, numbness, fragrance, and crispness as its features. Consumers will be so spicy that they will be heartbroken and teary, spicy enough to make your tears flow😭 2️⃣ Anyue Hot Pot Every bite stimulates the taste buds, and the unique seasoning is the icing on the cake, adding rich layers to the hot pot. You must try it when you come to Anyue~ After a long day of walking, visit Anyue Central Times Square! This is a characteristic block of Anyue, with everything you need for eating, drinking, and entertainment! There are also decorative art pieces and fountains, making it a mini urban park🏙️ Of course, there's also the World Lemon Industry Development Conference waiting for you to attend! Here, you can feel the vigorous development of the lemon industry, and also taste various lemon delicacies, truly a paradise for lemon lovers! Lastly, don't forget to take some Anyue lemons as a souvenir! As a specialty of Anyue, the lemons here are sweet and sour, not only can be eaten directly but also can be made into various delicacies, 🍋 not only delicious but also very nutritious! 🚗Transportation Guide Anyue has convenient transportation, you can choose to take public transport or drive there. 🏠About Accommodation Anyue Ximei Hotel, showcasing the hustle and bustle of the city. And Mingshi·Zhixi Hotel's French luxury is noble. Although they are not far apart, each has its own merits. If you want to experience the urban style, Ximei is the first choice; if you pursue French romance, Zhixi should not be missed~ Anyue is a charming travel destination, whether it's natural scenery or cultural landscapes, come to Anyue to experience the unique charm of this hometown of lemons!

Where to go in Chengdu on weekends? Why not drive to Anyue, a cultural resort with 1,400 years of history. In just less than 2 hours’ drive, you can spend two days and one night on a cultural journey. 🍀Scenic spots Anyue Grottoes enjoy an important position in my country's grotto art 🔸Reclining Buddha Temple: It has the world's longest left-side reclining Buddha. The stone caves, cliff carvings and historical stories of the Reclining Buddha Grottoes are all treasures of Chinese culture. 🕘Business hours: 09:00-18:00, no admission after 17:00 Ticket price: 10 yuan 🔸Anyue Yuanjue Cave Yuanjue Cave is named after the Twelve Yuanjue Bodhisattvas. On the cliffs on both sides of the cave are engraved "one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas", which are magnificent and exquisitely carved. After years of baptism, it still exudes a mysterious and solemn atmosphere 🕘Business hours: 08:00-18:00, no admission after 17:30 Ticket price: 28 yuan 🔸Bilu Cave Pilu Cave is hidden in Youping Village, Shiyang Town, southeast of Anyue. The mountains are green and rugged, with steep rocks standing in rows, hidden among the beautiful stones. The most famous of these is the cliff sculpture hanging in mid-air, called Purple Bamboo Guanyin. After thousands of years of wind and frost, it still looks elegant and graceful 🕘Business hours: 08:00-17:00, admission stops at 17:30 Tickets: Free all year round 🎡 Entertainment Baosen Lemon Tourist Area: This is a 4A-level tourist attraction and a provincial forest health care base, equipped with complete amusement facilities and a rich variety of themed cultural activities. Strolling through the green park, the lemon trees sway and the fruits smell fragrant, feeling the purity of nature 🍋Anyue lemon Lemon is Anyue’s business card, and Anyue is also known as the “China Lemon Capital”. "Look at Sichuan for Chinese lemons, and look at Anyue for Sichuan lemons." The World Lemon Industry Development Conference was also held in Anyue 🛍️Shopping Anyue Central Times Square gathers all kinds of Anyue delicacies and is also a bustling shopping center in the city center. 🍽️Food recommendation: Zhouli Sad Jelly This is a time-honored brand, and the special jelly can only be found in Anyue. When you come to Anyue, you must not miss this local specialty food! 🏠Accommodation recommendations 🔸Ximei Hotel The newly opened four-star hotel has elegant and exquisite decoration, the rooms are all intelligently designed, and the facilities are full of technology. Close to Central Times Square, convenient transportation location 📍 No. 19 Ningdu Avenue, Yuecheng Street, Anyue 🔸Mingshi Zhixi Hotel It is also a four-star hotel, clean and tidy. Located on the west side of Anyue Zhongdi Plaza, it is very convenient for eating, drinking and having fun 📍 No. 33, Zhongdi Commercial Street, Shiqiaopu Town, Anyue

I have been to Anyue Grottoes twice. This time it was a rainy day, but I finally arrived at Yuanjue Cave. It is closest to the county town, so it is the best preserved and well repaired. The ticket is naturally the most expensive, and there are many stairs and some signs of commercialization, but I would like to call it the luckiest one among Anyue Grottoes. 📷📷 Highlights: The main purpose of coming to Yuanjue Cave is to see the "One Buddha and Two Guanyins". It is a typical example of a large cave with large statues. The three Buddha statues are all about seven meters tall, magnificent and richly decorated. In the middle is the "One Buddha", with Sakyamuni holding a flower and smiling. Sakyamuni has a head full of spiral buns, wears a cassock, and points his finger at the ground. He looks dignified and very graceful. On the left and right sides are the "Two Guanyins", Guanyin with Pure Bottle and Guanyin with Lotus Hand. They have kind faces and relaxed expressions, breaking the dignified and solemn appearance of Buddha and Bodhisattva in early Chinese cave statues, and adding more secular and humane beauty. 💰💰 Tickets: 28 🕒🕒 Duration: 1 hour