Don't just visit Hongyadong! Discover the hidden gem of Dazu Stone Carvings in Chongqing.

Friends, when you come to Chongqing, don't just stay in the city center🚫 Today, I want to share a unique and awe-inspiring hidden gem with you — the Dazu Stone Carvings! It's a filming location for the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala and was stunningly recreated in the game *Black Myth: Wukong*. It's truly impressive! 🎨History and Culture: The Dazu Stone Carvings are a collective term for all the stone carvings and statues within Dazu District, Chongqing. Spanning the late Tang, Song, and other dynasties, they integrate Buddhist, Taoist, and Confucian philosophies, forming a history book written in stone📕 With over 50,000 statues, each one carries the memories of time, telling stories that transcend millennia and perfectly showcasing the charm of late Chinese cave art. 🌟Highlights: The site is vast, with the "Five Mountains" grottoes of Baoding, Beishan, Nanshan, Shimen, and Shizhuan being the most representative. The Baoding Mountain carvings are the essence of the site. Along a mile-long cliff face at Dafowan, 19 groups of Buddhist scripture story carvings unfold sequentially, complete with both images and text. The Thousand-Hand Guanyin is absolutely breathtaking, with 1,007 hands in various poses, resplendent in gold and vibrant colors✨ The Beishan Stone Carvings resemble a museum of Tang and Song stone carving art, with statues from different periods exhibiting diverse styles, ranging from dignified and full-bodied to small and exquisite, and then to distinctly individualistic. Strolling through them is like engaging in a dialogue with history. 🎬Popular Filming Location: *Black Myth: Wukong* recreated the Thousand-Hand Guanyin, the Western Pure Land Transformation at Baoding Mountain, and the "Transformation of Hell" carvings from the Dazu Stone Carvings in a 1:1 scale within the game world. Comparing the in-game visuals with the actual carvings reveals an astonishing resemblance, highlighting the dedication of the production team and introducing the beauty of the Dazu Stone Carvings to a wider audience. Its selection as a filming location for the 2025 CCTV Spring Festival Gala further propelled its fame! 💰Day Trip Guide: Near Jiefangbei or other popular attractions, you can find small tour agencies. Booking offline is cheaper than online. Due to the distance from the city center, it's generally recommended to book one day in advance. I personally think it's enough to just see Baoding Mountain at Dazu, as the others aren't as impressive. Photography of the Buddha statues is allowed here, so it's best to bring a wide-angle lens. Although my photos were all taken with a 50mm prime lens (I didn't bring my full lens kit), a 24mm lens would be more impactful. 🎈Tips for Visiting: Hire a guide: The historical, cultural, and religious connotations behind the carvings are rich, and a professional guide is essential to fully appreciate their intricacies. Plan your time wisely: The scenic area is large. If you want to explore all "Five Mountains" grottoes, it's recommended to allocate two days. Photography tips: Ample light is ideal for photography, but avoid using flash. The soft light of early morning or late afternoon creates more depth and dimension in your photos. ❗Important Notes: Protect the cultural relics; touching or climbing is strictly prohibited. Respect religious beliefs and maintain a quiet atmosphere. Pay attention to weather changes and bring appropriate clothing and rain gear. The Dazu Stone Carvings are truly an underrated artistic treasure. Don't miss them when you visit Chongqing! Save this post and start planning your trip💖