Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing: The World Heritage Site of Shimenshan

Shimenshan One of the five mountains of Dazu Rock Carvings Shimenshan in Dazu, much like the Tiefo Temple in southeastern Shanxi, was closed for decades, even locals hadn't been inside. Now it's finally open to the public, with over 400 statues, depicting immortals, Buddhas, ghosts, and gods, from wrathful deities to compassionate Bodhisattvas. It's known as the "pinnacle of Song Dynasty Taoist stone carvings." Cars can only park by the roadside. After passing a lotus pond and a bamboo forest, you'll see a small wooden house covered in vintage slogans. Only after passing through the moon gate can you finally behold its beauty. Shimenshan's stone carvings are truly hidden. 🗿About Shimenshan Carved during the Northern and Southern Song Dynasties Cliffside stone carvings combining Buddhism and Taoism 📸Must-sees ✅Jade Emperor Shrine: The main attraction is the two life-sized statues of Clairvoyance and Clairaudience below, with their towering figures and exposed veins. Quite impressive. ✅Ten Saints Guanyin Cave: Shimenshan's "star attraction," featuring the Three Sages of the West in the center and ten manifestations of Guanyin on both sides. Exquisite craftsmanship and breathtaking beauty. ✅Mahamayuri Vidyaraja Cave: Among all the Mahamayuri statues in Sichuan and Chongqing, I personally feel this one is second to none. ✅Hariti Shrine: The statue of the Mother of Demons (Goddess of Children) from folklore. ✅Three Emperors Cave: The Southern Song Dynasty civil official statues are exceptional. In the center are the Three Emperors, and the Four Great Marshals hold various ritual objects, a truly majestic sight. 🤷🏻‍♂️Some regrets The head of one of the Willow Guanyin statues in the Ten Saints Guanyin Cave was stolen, just 20 years ago. It's heartbreaking. No wonder this cave is now tightly closed with surveillance everywhere… Perhaps this is why Shimenshan was closed for decades, for fear of theft. Putting aside reverence, I can accept weathering and fading of the statues, but I absolutely cannot tolerate human destruction…