From the river, the Leshan Buddha is impossible to miss. Carved straight into the red cliffs, this colossal weathered giant looks out over the water with a calm, steady gaze. The river curves around it, trees cling to the rock face, and everything feels small in comparison.

There’s a quiet strength to it—like it’s been here forever, watching centuries pass by without hurry. The noise of the world fades, replaced by the slow flow of the river and the weight of history carved in stone.