Leshan, formerly known as Jiazhou, is located at the confluence of the Dadu, Min, and Qingyi Rivers in Sichuan Province. Leshan has more than 3,000 years of history and is home to the Leshan Giant Buddha which is the largest stone-carved buddha sculpture in the world at 233’ tall. The Giant Buddha is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also located within the administrative jurisdiction of Leshan is Mt. Emei which is one of four sacred Buddhist mountains in China and the center of the Buddhist culture in the world. The Giant Buddha and Mt. Emei are both UNESCO World Heritage Sites along with the Dongfeng Weir which is a World Heritage Irrigation Site. Leshan is home to three Chinese martial arts schools with histories ranging from 800-2,500 years of history.
There are 108 rivers and streams in Leshan and many tea plantations. In addition, Leshan is home to many businesses ranging from the hi-tech semi-conductor industry to agricultural products as well as service businesses. Leshan consists of 11 districts and counties and currently has a population of about 3.5 million people. The mix of a long history, a fascinating culture full of wonderful people make Leshan a great place to visit.