Beijing, March 12 (Youth.cn) - On March 10, 2025, the Niujiazhai Cliff Carvings in Meishan, Sichuan, drew visitors with their intricate Buddhist sculptures. Nestled in the countryside of Yingtou Village’s Third Group in Gaojia Town, part of Sichuan Tianfu New District’s Meishan area, the grotto complex lies on the eastern edge of the central Longquan Mountain Range. It comprises three sections: Guanyin Hall, Tanshenyan Cliff Carvings, and Yuhuang Temple, with 101 documented niches housing 1,519 statues.

The highlight is the Niujiazhai Giant Buddha, the largest statue in the complex. Measuring 7.7 meters in head height, 1 meter in neck height, 4.85 meters in chest height, 4.6 meters in facial width, and 11 meters in shoulder width, it is revered as the “First Chest Buddha of China.”

Dating back to the Tang Dynasty, the Niujiazhai Grottoes were designated in the sixth batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units, underscoring their historical and artistic significance. Photo/CFP