Rongxian Giant Buddha

[2] The Buddha is carved out of the cliff face of a stone hill that lies to the north east of Rongxian and the Rongxi River in the eastern part of Sichuan province in China.

When the Giant Buddha was carved, a huge ten story wood structure, with five roofs was built to shelter it from the rain and sun.

The upper half of the hill was sandstone cliff into which a niche 50 feet broad had been cut, "leaving a central core of stone carved into a figure seated in European style, not cross legged as Buddha is so often represented.

According to Xinhua news agency, the Leshan Giant Buddha and many Chinese natural and cultural heritage sites in the region have seen degradations from weathering, air pollution, and swarms of tourists.

[6] At 71 metres (233 ft) tall, the statue depicts a seated Maitreya Buddha with his hands resting on his knees.