The Leshan Buddha, located about an hour and forty minutes south of Chengdu by train, is an amazing feat of ancient architecture and manpower. Carved into the side of Mt. Lingyun, this colossal statue at 71 meters (233 feet) tall, was originally built to appease an angry water spirit! For those traveling to Leshan to see this UNESCO Word Heritage Site, I recommend planning your visit during a weekday or a non-holiday weekend, if possible, otherwise be prepared to wait a good two to three hours to go down the Nine Plank Road!