[2024 Anyue Attraction] Travel Guide for Anyue Stone Carvings (Updated Oct)
Historical Sites
Address:
Anyue, Ziyang, Sichuan, China
Recommended sightseeing time:
0.5-1 hour
Anyue Ancient Stone Carvings
Anyue County in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province is located in the middle of the Sichuan Basin, at the midpoint of the line connecting Chengdu and Chongqing. However, Anyue has not developed due to its geographical location and is still an unknown agricultural county. Anyue is a large county in terms of population, with a permanent population of about 930,000 and hundreds of thousands of floating population. Anyue County has a product that is unique in China, that is, lemon, which accounts for about 80% of the total national output. After we arrived in Anyue, we found that another thing worth mentioning in Anyue is the ancient stone carvings.
Speaking of grottoes, people naturally think of places with large scale and concentrated statues, such as Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes, and Longmen Grottoes. Mogao Grottoes are mainly statues and murals, and the latter two are stone carvings. We visited the Ming Mountain Temple, Huayan Cave, Pilu Cave, Reclining Buddha Temple, and Yuanjue Cave in Anyue in one day. The stone carvings we saw were exquisite. From a technical point of view, there are new developments and improvements based on the Yungang and Longmen stone carvings, such as realistic techniques and hollowing techniques. Although the attached photos were taken with a mobile phone, the exquisiteness of the Anyue stone carvings can still be seen. More than 100 years after the heyday of Anyue stone carvings, Dazu stone carvings reached their peak.
S0l@r1s_Wyvern
Art Comparable to 'Mogao Caves'｜Over 90% of Sichuan People Haven't Heard of It
Today, I recommend a very hidden and niche travel destination 【Anyue Stone Carvings】. Not to mention outsiders, many Sichuan locals haven't heard of it either. But the artistic value and sensory experience here are absolutely outstanding. Spend 1-2 days here over the weekend, and you will be absolutely amazed.
I feel it's unfair for Anyue Stone Carvings; it deserves to be seen by more people.
Due to the thousand-year exposure to the wind, the carvings bear the marks of the wind. The traces of thousands of years have formed the shape of the wind, which is very impressive.
🚘About Transportation
🚘: It takes about 2 hours to drive from Chongqing/Chengdu, mostly on highways; there are also 🚌 buses from Chengdu/Chongqing to Anyue.
Recommended 2-day tour itinerary
Day1️⃣: Chongqing - Peacock Cave - Mingshan Temple - Huayan Cave - Pilu Cave - Tapo - Stay in Anyue County
Day2️⃣: Yuanjue Cave - Qianfo Village - Mumen Temple - Wofoyuan - Return
⏰If time permits, you can also visit Dazu Rock Carvings along the way.
Worth visiting along the way
🔘Mingshan Temple
🎫Ticket: Free🆓
🔴Dozens of cliff carvings are sculpted on the sheer cliffs, mostly starting from the Song Dynasty. The traces of thousands of years of weathering give it a unique 'beauty of erosion'.
🔘Peacock Cave
🎫Ticket: Free🆓
🔴Mainly excavated in the Song Dynasty, the stunning Peacock Mingwang statue, and a rare well-preserved Song Dynasty stone pagoda at the top of the mountain.
🔘Huayan Cave
🎫Ticket: 10💴
🔴The 'Three Saints of Huayan' inside are meticulously arranged, and the carvings are incredibly exquisite.
🔘Pilu Cave
🎫Ticket: 18💴
🔴Featuring the Zizhu Guanyin, known as the Oriental Venus, and the Ten Practices of Liu Benzun, all are rare masterpieces of Song Dynasty stone carving art.
🔘Tapo
🎫Ticket: Free🆓
🔴The Three Saints of Huayan inside are considered the most beautiful Buddha statues of the Northern Song Dynasty. Just a glance through the door crack can heal you with the power of human and Buddhist compassion.
🔘Yuanjue Cave
🎫Ticket: 28💴
🔴Originating from the Tang and Song Dynasties, named after the Twelve Yuanjue Stone Caves, it is probably the most developed and well-protected site in Anyue.
🔘Qianfo Village
🎫Ticket: Free🆓
🔴Named after the more than 3,000 Buddha statues on the cliff walls. Unfortunately, it was under renovation and not open for visits when we went.
🔘Wofoyuan
🎫Ticket: 10💴
🔴Originating from the flourishing Tang Dynasty, the cliff walls hold a large number of stone carvings and Buddhist scriptures. The 'Left Reclining Buddha' suspended between giant rocks is novel and exquisite.
🔘Mumen Temple
🎫Ticket: Free🆓
🔘Located on the way to Wofoyuan, unlike other scattered rural grottoes, it houses the True Body Relic Pagoda hidden deep in the mountains.
Travel🧳TIPS
✔️Most of the Anyue Stone Carvings are scattered in the countryside, so it's better to drive.
✔️For non-driving tourists, it's recommended to hire a vehicle; one person can hire a motorcycle.
✔️There are many narrow paths along the way, so be sure to honk in advance while driving.
ZenGarden555555
Come to the countryside to see a grand exhibition that has lasted for a thousand years
Depart from the county town - Yuanjue Cave - Qianfozhai - Wofu Temple
1️⃣ First went to Yuanjue Cave in the county town, the ticket price is 28 yuan per person🌟
The scenic area is well developed, more like a park, just keep walking up and you can see the cliff carvings
2️⃣ Qianfozhai has no admission fee🌟🌟🌟
This is the most worthwhile place to go on the north line, in my opinion. It feels like a forest park, and the Buddha statues entwined by tree roots make this place more charming and mysterious. It takes about 50 minutes to stroll around leisurely
🚗 Just navigate directly to Qianfozhai, and you can park for free in the yard
3️⃣ Wofu Temple ticket is 10 yuan per person🌟🌟
The 23-meter-long Nirvana image of Sakyamuni is very spectacular, and it is also the largest left-side reclining Buddha existing in China
⚠️ Note: The entrance to the parking lot at the gate is very narrow, SUVs can squeeze onto the side flowerbed to drive in, cars need to pay more attention
🌟 Summary:
In two days, I visited 8 ancient sites. If you don't have enough time and can't visit them all, then I suggest you definitely shouldn't miss the following places📍Pilu Cave
📍Mingshan Temple
📍Tapo
📍Qianfozhai
📍Wofu Temple
These few spots are my favorite places after touring for two days, each with its own characteristics!
If you are not too far from Anyue, then you must visit this small city!
Hazel321~Cook
Off-the-Beaten-Path | Touching the Flow of a Millennium
Touching the Flow of a Millennium.🌟 Anyue Stone Carvings: The Brilliant Treasure of a Thousand Years of Art
✔️During the Song Dynasty a thousand years ago, craftsmen meticulously carved on this land, leaving behind countless astonishing stone carvings.
✔️They excavated 20 niches, totaling a length of 118 meters. Today, 465 cliff stone carvings still remain, scattered across places like Pilu Cave, Youju Cave, Thousand Buddha Cave, Guanyin Hall, and Jade Emperor Pavilion. In addition, there are 18 stele inscriptions, 10 cliff tombs, and 2 Buddhist pagodas, together forming the magnificent landscape of the 'New Landmark of the Bashu Cultural Tourism Corridor'.
✅Spring and autumn are the best seasons to visit these millennial artworks. At this time, the sky is clear and the sun shines obliquely, making the contours of the stone carvings clearly visible against the sky, as if history and reality are intertwined, presenting an overwhelmingly beautiful scene.
🚗It takes about 2 hours to drive from Chengdu to reach Anyue
📝Recommended Anyue Stone Carving Sites:
🔹Mingshan Temple
🔹Anyue Stone Carvings Yuanjue Cave Scenic Area
🔹Huayan Cave Stone Carvings
🔹Peacock Cave
🔹Anyue Tapo Carvings
🔹Thousand Buddha Temple
🔹Wofo Temple
🔹It's also worth taking a look at the Dazu Rock Carvings, which are about an hour's drive from Anyue!
aveline_
I'm so excited, I regret not coming here sooner! The most beautiful Buddha statue of the Northern Song Dynasty!
Anyue Stone Carvings, located in Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, are hailed as a 'treasury of ancient Chinese carving art', known for their grand scale, rich themes, and exquisite craftsmanship. This group of stone carvings, hidden deep in the hills of central Sichuan, spans the Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties, witnessing the blending and development of Buddhist and Taoist cultures!
🍀 Must-visit attractions:
① Xuanmiao Temple
A national key cultural relic protection site, it was built between the 6th year of the Kaiyuan era and the 7th year of the Tianbao era of the Tang Dynasty. Its uniqueness lies in the *Buddha-Taoist niches*, where Laozi and Sakyamuni are ingeniously carved together in the same grotto, showing a historical scene of religious harmony. The most eye-catching is the sculpture of Laozi herding cattle, vividly recreating the life scene of the Taoist founder, which is breathtaking.
② Reclining Buddha Temple
Centered around a 23-meter-long full-body stone-carved reclining Buddha from the Tang Dynasty, it is the largest full-body reclining Buddha statue of the Tang Dynasty in the country. The Buddha's expression is serene, with smooth lines, surrounded by many exquisite cliff carvings and inscriptions, creating a solemn and serene atmosphere for meditation.
③ Yuanjue Cave
As the essence of Anyue Stone Carvings, Yuanjue Cave is famous for its intricate layout and delicate carvings. The cave is filled with lifelike statues of Bodhisattvas, Arhats, and others, especially the twelve Yuanjue Bodhisattvas, whose dignified demeanor and elegant drapery are considered the epitome of Song Dynasty stone carving art.
🍀 Detailed address:
Anyue County, Ziyang City, Sichuan Province. The specific stone carving sites are distributed in different townships within the county, such as Xuanmiao Temple in Tongxian Town, Reclining Buddha Temple in Wofu Town, Yuanjue Cave in Yueyang Town, etc. It is recommended to use navigation software for precise positioning.
🍀 Transportation strategy:
① Self-driving: Depart from Chengdu and travel about 150 kilometers along the Chengdu-Chongqing Expressway or Chengdu-Anshun-Chongqing Expressway to reach Anyue County, then follow the navigation to the stone carving sites.
② Public transportation: First take the high-speed train to Ziyang North Station, then transfer to a long-distance bus to Anyue County, and then choose local taxis or chartered cars to the stone carving scenic areas. Some popular attractions like Yuanjue Cave are accessible by public bus routes.
🍀 Food recommendations:
① Anyue Rice Rolls: A local specialty snack made from high-quality rice, steamed to a fine and smooth texture, served with spicy or sour and spicy sauce, delicious and not to be missed.
② Lemon Feast: Anyue is known as the 'Hometown of Chinese Lemons'. Local restaurants have innovatively launched a lemon feast that incorporates lemon elements into various dishes, such as lemon fish, lemon chicken, lemon ribs, etc., which are sour, sweet, appetizing, and refreshing.
🍀 Recommended nearby attractions:
① Mingshan Temple Carvings: About 30 kilometers away from Anyue County, it is dominated by Tang Dynasty cliff carvings, especially the magnificent Medicine Buddha and Thousand-Handed Guanyin.
② Huayan Cave: Not far from Yuanjue Cave, the cave houses a grand Huayan Three Saints statue and many exquisite stone carvings, another masterpiece of Song Dynasty grotto art.
③ Lezhi Baoguo Temple: Located in Lezhi County adjacent to Anyue County, it is a long-standing Buddhist temple with a tranquil environment, ancient trees reaching to the sky, and a great place for quiet contemplation, worship, and leisurely health preservation.
Eleanor.Robinson^44
Anyue, an underrated gem of a niche travel destination
🍋 Located in Ziyang City, Sichuan Province, Anyue is well-known to those who appreciate historical stone carvings, earning it the nickname 'Capital of Buddhist Sculpture in China'.
✈️ The statues in Anyue County were created during the Southern and Northern Dynasties, particularly famous for the grandeur of the Tang Dynasty statues and the exquisite craftsmanship of the Song Dynasty statues.
Tour route: Reclining Buddha Temple - Huayan Cave - Pilu Cave - Yuanjue Cave
The cliff carvings at the Reclining Buddha Temple were mainly excavated during the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan to Dali period, featuring the Nirvana of Sakyamuni, Sakyamuni Preaching, and the Eleven-Faced Avalokitesvara, among others. The reclining Buddha is 23 meters long, the largest full-body Tang Dynasty stone carving of a reclining Buddha in the country.
Huayan Cave was carved in the Southern Song Dynasty and consists of two grottoes with 159 statues from the Song Dynasty, many of which are missing heads.
Pilu Cave is most famous for its Water Moon Avalokitesvara, considered the pinnacle of Anyue stone carvings, praised by British Chinese writer Han Suyin as the 'Purple Bamboo Avalokitesvara' of the East.
Yuanjue Cave is located on Yunju Mountain in the Jinhua Community of Yuecheng Street, Anyue County, 1 kilometer southeast of the county town, with direct access via National Highway 247. The site has a profound historical and cultural heritage, with stone carvings dating back to the Tang Dynasty, flourishing during the Five Dynasties and Northern Song Dynasty. It was named for the 'Twelve Yuanjue' carvings excavated during the Northern Song period, concentrated on the cliffs south and north of Yunju Mountain. The carving area is 186 meters long, with 103 cliff niches, 1933 statues of various sizes, and 25 inscriptions and steles, including a Tang Dynasty pagoda.
🍋 Besides being the 'Capital of Buddhist Sculpture in China', Anyue is also known as the 'Lemon Capital of China'. The Baosen Lemon Tourist Area is the largest lemon-themed tourist area in the country. The World Lemon Development Conference is held here annually. In Anyue, you can witness the spectacular sight of thousands of acres of lemon plantations and unlock the secrets of 25 major lemon varieties from around the world in the World Lemon Variety Expo Park.
🍽️ When it comes to food, Anyue Times Square has it all, with a variety of snacks available, including the highly recommended 'Heartbroken Jelly Noodles'.
🏨 As for accommodation, there are brand hotels like Vienna Hotel and upscale options like Mingshi.
WandererSpirit
Anyue Tourism | Exploring the Hometown of Lemons
The fragrance of lemons here is overwhelming, and upon arrival, it feels as if even the air has become sweeter with a hint of lemon🍋 The stone carving art here is even more astonishing, as if traveling back to a thousand years ago Let's explore the hometown of lemons - Anyue together~
First stop, Baosen Lemon Tourism Area! This is the largest lemon-themed scenic area in the country. It's like walking into the kingdom of lemons, with the fresh aroma hitting you in the face. Don't forget to taste the explosively sour lemons that instantly refresh and invigorate your mind🍋
🏞️Attraction Recommendations
1️⃣ Wofo Temple
The Wofo Temple cliff carvings were mainly excavated during the Tang Dynasty's Kaiyuan to Dali years, and it has the largest full-body stone carving of a reclining Buddha from the Tang Dynasty on the left side. Roaming the Anyue Wofo Temple, one can smile at the sight of thousands of Buddhas lying in the clouds! The Buddha statues are lifelike, as if they are all napping, truly embodying a 'Buddha-like' attitude to the extreme! The stone carving art here is ingenious and definitely worth a visit.
2️⃣ Anyue Yuanjue Cave
Located on Yunju Mountain, 1 kilometer southeast of Anyue County, it is named after the Buddhist cliff carvings of the 'Yuanjue Cave' excavated during the Northern Song Dynasty. The mountain here is steep, and the cave scenery is peculiar, as if stepping into a mythological world! Every step is a new discovery, every glance a new surprise!
3️⃣ Pilu Cave
The famous Purple Bamboo Guanyin statue and the only Sichuan Esoteric Buddhism site in the country are located here. Setting foot on this land is like traveling through a time tunnel, conversing with the ancients. The stone carving skills are exquisite and detailed, filled with historical and cultural heritage, and are very worth visiting for study and observation~
🍜About Food
1️⃣ Zhou Li's Heartbreaking Cold Noodles
Heartbreaking Cold Noodles maintain the characteristics of Sichuan flavor, with spiciness, numbness, fragrance, and crispness as its features. Consumers will be so spicy that they will be heartbroken and teary, spicy enough to make your tears flow😭
2️⃣ Anyue Hot Pot
Every bite stimulates the taste buds, and the unique seasoning is the icing on the cake, adding rich layers to the hot pot. You must try it when you come to Anyue~
After a long day of walking, visit Anyue Central Times Square! This is a characteristic block of Anyue, with everything you need for eating, drinking, and entertainment! There are also decorative art pieces and fountains, making it a mini urban park🏙️
Of course, there's also the World Lemon Industry Development Conference waiting for you to attend! Here, you can feel the vigorous development of the lemon industry, and also taste various lemon delicacies, truly a paradise for lemon lovers!
Lastly, don't forget to take some Anyue lemons as a souvenir! As a specialty of Anyue, the lemons here are sweet and sour, not only can be eaten directly but also can be made into various delicacies, 🍋 not only delicious but also very nutritious!
🚗Transportation Guide
Anyue has convenient transportation, you can choose to take public transport or drive there.
🏠About Accommodation
Anyue Ximei Hotel, showcasing the hustle and bustle of the city. And Mingshi·Zhixi Hotel's French luxury is noble. Although they are not far apart, each has its own merits. If you want to experience the urban style, Ximei is the first choice; if you pursue French romance, Zhixi should not be missed~
Anyue is a charming travel destination, whether it's natural scenery or cultural landscapes, come to Anyue to experience the unique charm of this hometown of lemons!