The Beishan cliff carvings were initiated at the end of the Tang Dynasty and concluded during the Southern Song Dynasty. They are located on Beishan, 2 kilometers north of Dazu District. Centered around the Great Buddha Bay, the carvings extend to the surrounding areas of Guanyin Slope, Yingpan Slope, Fo’er Rock, and Beita Temple, encompassing five locations. The carvings stretch over 500 meters, with the rock face reaching approximately 7 meters in height, featuring images carved along the cliff. Shaped like a crescent from south to north, the niches are as numerous as beehives. There are more than 5000 statues, exquisitely crafted with delicate and skilled artistry. Apart from some damaged inscriptions, pagodas, and minor niches, the majority are well-preserved.
There are nearly ten thousand statues at Beishan, primarily funded by secular individuals praying to Buddha. The carvings represent 51 themes, predominantly Buddhist Esotericism, accounting for more than half of the total. Other themes include the Three Stages Teaching and Pure Land Buddhism. These themes were extremely popular among the common people at the time and are a product of the secularization of Buddhism, distinct from earlier Chinese grottoes. Beishan carvings are renowned for their fine craftsmanship, exquisite artistry, and elegant beauty, showcasing the development and evolution of folk Buddhist beliefs and cave art styles in China from the late 9th century to the mid-12th century (Late Tang, Five Dynasties, and Two Song Dynasties). The site is open year-round from 09:00 to 18:00. For the Beishan Scenic Area of Dazu Stone Carvings (night tour), the park opens at 19:30 and closes at 23:00. Ticket sales are from 19:30 to 21:00, and ticket inspection ends at 21:30. Concessions include: Students: Full-time undergraduate students and below, aged 18 (inclusive), with valid ID and Student Card, enjoy half-price tickets; Elderly: Individuals aged 60 (inclusive) to 64 (inclusive) with valid ID enjoy half-price tickets; those aged 65 (inclusive) and above with valid ID enter for free. Minors: Individuals under 18 (not inclusive) with valid ID or other documents enter for free. Military personnel: Active military with valid ID and military service documents enter for free. Family members of active military personnel: With valid ID and military family documents, enter for free. Retired and veteran military personnel: With valid ID and retirement or veteran documents, enter for free. Firefighters and fire rescue academy students: With valid ID and fire rescue service documents, enter for free. ‘New Chongqing Talents’ cardholders: Cardholders with valid ID and service cards enjoy free entry to Dazu Stone Carvings, digital cinema tickets, and Baoding Mountain scenic area transportation tickets. Type A and B talents and 1-7 accompanying persons enter for free; Type C talents and 1-5 accompanying persons enter for free; Type D and E (Dazu District) talents and 1-3 accompanying persons enter for free; Type F (Dazu District) talents enter for free.During national legal holidays, only the person himself is exempt from tickets. Accompanying persons are not exempt from tickets. Free for Buddhist and Taoist clergy: Buddhist and Taoist clergy can visit for free with their original valid ID cards and the “Clergy Certificate” printed by the Chinese Buddhist and Taoist associations. Free for people with disabilities: People with disabilities can visit for free with their original valid ID cards and the second-generation “People’s Republic of China Disability Certificate”. Disabled military personnel can visit for free with their original valid ID cards and the “Disabled Military Personnel Certificate”. Disabled fire rescue personnel can visit for free with their original valid ID cards and the “Disability Certificate for National Comprehensive Fire Rescue Team”. Among them, people with visual, intellectual, and physical (first and second level) disabilities can bring one accompanying caregiver to visit for free. Free for “three dependents”: Survivors of martyrs, survivors of military personnel who died on duty, and survivors of military personnel who died of illness can visit for free with their original valid ID cards and the “three dependents” preferential treatment certificate. Free supplementary note: (1) Tourists who purchase tickets can enter the park by checking tickets with the original of their valid identity documents (including ID card, social security card, Exit-Entry Permit for Travelling to and from Hong Kong and Macao, Taiwan Compatriot Travel Permit, Home Return Permit, passport, etc.). All kinds of certificates that are altered, expired, or without certificate numbers are invalid; student ID cards without registration stamps are invalid; and those with incomplete relevant information are invalid. (2) Policy-exempted personnel must go through the ticket-free procedures online or at the scenic spot ticket office with their original valid identity documents and preferential certificate. (3) Full-time undergraduates, adult colleges, in-service education, online education and other students do not enjoy student discounts.
