World's largest stone Buddha statue in Sichuan welcome holiday crowds

The world's largest and tallest stone sculpture of Buddha, Leshan Giant Buddha, welcomed tourists during the May Day holiday season in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Giant Buddha day tour tickets have been sold out on the day. It took about 2 hours to queue up to see the Buddha at the Nine Bends Plank Road. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Leshan Giant Buddha is a 71-meter tall stone statue, built between 713 and 803.

The Buddha lies at the confluence of the Min River, Dadu River, and Qingyi River. The statue is a hugely popular attraction and often included in cruises along the nearby Yangtze River and Three Gorges.