Rongxian Giant Buddha

Day trip to Rongxian: We ride city bus #1 to the bus station and buy 2 x 14 = 28 RMB tickets on the 9:55 express bus to Rongxian, which takes about an hour.

Walking out of the Rongxian bus station it's no trouble finding the town's main attraction, the 2nd largest Buddha Image in the world (the largest is just down the road at Leshan); there are several large signs featuring a Buddha's head pointing the way.

Arriving at the ticket window we find to our surprise that the ticket price is 60 RMB per person for all non-residents, almost $10, much more than the 8 RMB we expected from our research; so we punted, and enjoyed the "for free" views (see photos below). The price for locals is 10 RMB, that seems a bit high as well. Sigh. I guess the tour groups will pay up though.

We stood around for awhile at the entrance and watched a family of five visiting a friend in Rongxian also punt. No wonder. 60 x 5 - 300 RMB, about $45.

On to the Number Two Buddha across the river which is a temple that features many Buddha images carved out of a cliff. Entrance fee 1 RMB; and we had the vegetarian lunch for 4 RMB each. Then after trying and failing to find anything old in the Old Town, we climbed up to the Pagoda, then returned to Zigong.

Full disclosure: We saw the Giant Buddha at Leshan in 2004. See photo way below.

View of Rongxian Giant Buddha from ticket gate.


And from the Parking Lot.


John washing our the lunch dishes at the Number Two Buddha Temple.


Pagoda.


John and Leshan Giant Buddha (Dafo) in 2004 as seen from a boat in the Min River.