Explore the Dazu Grottoes Rock Carvings

Explore the Dazu
Grottoes Rock Carvings

Get lost in the mystery of the Dazu Grottoes on this exceptional exploration of ancient
history. View a myriad of UNESCO-listed rock carvings, shrines and reliefs, including
the Thousand-Hand Kwanyin – an ornate and gilded statute featuring 1,000 hands.

WHY THIS TOUR?

Get lost in the mystery of the Dazu Grottoes on this exceptional exploration of ancient history. The Dazu rock carvings are located in the county of Dazu, Chongqing. Construction began in 650 A.D and continued into the 17th century.

Boasting historical, artistic and scientific value, the carvings are renowned for their grand size, the intricacy of the work and the different themes. Some are in rock-cut cave shrines, in the usual Chinese Buddhist style, but many others are rock reliefs carved into the open-rock faces. These cliff-side engravings relate stories about morality, art and religion and they have influenced China’s arts scene for an eternity.

TRAIL ITINERARY

Explore the Dazu Grottoes Rock Carvings

08:00 - 17:00

The driver and guide will collect you from the hotel and take you on a two- hour journey to Dazu. The tour takes you to Baodingshan Hill, the location of artworks that date back to between the 9th and 13th centuries.

There are 13 groups of stone carvings on this extensive site, totalling over 10,000 cliffside figures. They are remarkable for their aesthetic quality; the rich diversity of the subject matter; and the insight they provide on past life in China. Although most are Buddhist statues, the carvings also portray the harmonious coexistence of the three different religions of Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Many show examples of actions and their various punishments after death and emphasise how penance can be avoided if one lives a devout life and enters into Nirvana.

The most significant carving you will view is the Thousand-Hand Kwanyin. Also known as the ‘Goddess of Mercy’, this spectacular gilded statue has over 1,000 hands with an eye in each palm. The statue is 7.7-metres-high and 12.5-metres-wide and is a masterpiece among thousands of individual rock carvings in the grottoes in Dazu. Baodingshan Hill has become the second most important mountain for Buddhists in China with many describing it as a bible written in stone for Buddhists. Lunch is at a local restaurant.

At the end of the tour, the driver will take you back to the hotel.

THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW

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INCLUSIONS

  • A full-day tour with a professional English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request and may be subject to supplementary charges
  • Transportation by air-conditioned vehicle with professional driver.
  • Various means of transportation as outlined during the tour
  • All entrance fees for visits as mentioned in the description.
  • All applicable taxes and service charges
  • Lunch at a local restaurant is included (food only)

EXCLUSIONS

  • Tours, inclusions of any kind and other services that are not outlined in the tour description
  • Personal expenses such as meals, drinks, tips and gratuities, shopping, portage fees and optional tours, unless otherwise stated
  • Hotel accommodation in the destination of commencement.
  • Compulsory Christmas, country-specific festival and/or New Year dinner at included hotels
  • Single supplement charges for single travelers, where applicable
  • Any airline tickets, visa fees, additional transportation cost from and to the general meeting point
  • Supplements for transfers for customers arriving or departing from any airport or resorts located outside the general pick-up and drop-off locations
  • Hotel expenses of a personal nature, should an overnight be included: this includes mini-bar consumption, laundry, room service, any telephone or other communication cost not mentioned in the program
  • Travel insurance coverage for customers (highly recommendable)

GOOD TO KNOW

  • This tour is operated on full private basis with English-speaking guide. Other languages are on request / subject to availability and supplementary charges may apply
  • Return transfers for this excursion apply only / are inclusive for customers staying inside downtown Chongqing. Transfers outside these areas, including any accommodation outside this area such as Yubei District, any cruise and ferry terminal and Chongqing International Airport are excluded. Supplements apply for customers who want to join this excursion outside one of these regions.
  • We regret to inform you that most of the museums in China are closed all day on Mondays and public holidays; wherever possible, we will try to offer alternative visits for touring options on this day.
  • Customers are advised that during the Lunar Festival celebrations (celebration of Chinese New Year), excursions and tours may be subject to supplementary charges and/or may see longer waiting times than normal.
  • We will do all possible to comply with any dietary requirements during this excursion; it may not always be possible to confirm your wishes in advance based on the choice of local restaurant.
  • Guests are advised that some walking is required during this excursion; we always ensure that we take the most comfortable ways from the entrance of the sight to the sight itself.
  • We will always make the effort to confirm the exact pick-up time upon reservation. For any operational issues in which are not able to confirm the exact pick-up time in advance, we reserve the right to inform you the day before the departure of the tour.
  • Please note pick-up and drop-off services may not be confirmed for customers staying at private residences, apartment complexes, or other non-registered tourism accommodations. Customers may be asked to meet at a nearby hotel for pick-up and drop off.
  • Natural elements of any kind have a destructive effect on electronic equipment. It is the customer’s own responsibility to ensure that any camera, mobile telephone or other device is properly wrapped and protected against these elements. We cannot be held responsible in any way for negligence and/or not following suggestions for any damage related to this.
  • Please ensure that you bring sunglasses, a hat /cap and sunblock with a high SPF factor when traveling with us on this tour – even when it is cloudy, the sun’s rays are still very powerful.
  • We reserve the right to make necessary changes to the excursion in case of unfavourable weather conditions or situations where we are forced to make alterations to guarantee the safety of our guests.
  • The protection of the country’s flora and fauna is of immense importance for us. We will not pursue any activities for guests that are not in line with our animal, wildlife and environment protection principles.
  • We recommend wearing light, comfortable cotton clothing and comfortable shoes.
  • It is the responsibility of the customer to provide us with the correct hotel information, should pick-up and drop-off services be included in the package. Any changes in accommodation outside 24 hours will be handled accordingly: changes within 24 hours may be on request.
  • In the event of no-show or change of accommodation without prior consent and confirmation from us within 24 hours may result in the applicable cancellation charges as outlined in the terms and conditions.

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