Leshan
Leshan, Sichuan Province (luh-shan)
Most of the more than 3 million people who live in Leshan belong to the Han majority. However, there are several thousand Yi people who also make their home there. Because of its position near the southern Sichuan mountains historically inhabited by the Yi, Leshan was witness to centuries of warfare between the two people groups. Today the city is a key industrial area and tourist destination, with travellers coming from both China and abroad to visit the famous Buddhist sites here. Leshan is home to not just one, but two of the largest Buddha statues in the world. The 223-foot high Grand Buddha Statue stands carved into the side of a cliff, overlooking the river below. It was constructed nearly 1300 years ago to “watch over” the passing ships and to keep their crews safe in the rough waters. The Grand Buddha is so large that 100 people can stand on one of its stone feet. In 1996 the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) added the statue to its list of world heritage sites. Leshan’s newly constructed Reclining Buddha is, at 557 feet long, the longest statue in the world. Leshan is also home to the holy Buddhist site Mt. Emei. The mountain is dotted with a multitude of monasteries, temples, and statues.
Pray that the people of Leshan will focus their attention on Jesus Christ rather than the area’s prominent Buddhist sites. Pray also that local believers will be bold in their witness to tourists coming to worship in the city. Ask the Lord to strengthen and unify the Christian church in Leshan, and to bless them with fruitfulness in their city.
Archived Focus Cities
Tai’an • Leshan • Anshan • Fuxin • Jingzhou • Mudanjiang • Pingliang • Shijiazhuang • Xiangfan • Xining