The Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan

For a variety of reasons, the Leshan Giant Buddha may be more popular than Lushan's tallest Buddha. This is the greatest stone statue of Maitreya, the projected successor of Gautama Buddha, carved out of a cliff of Qifeng Peak. The Leshan Buddha has a fascinating backstory. It was erected above the confluence of three rivers to soothe the water spirits that were causing turbulence. The edifice took 90 years and thousands of workers to finish. The rivers had slowed down by the time it was finished due to all the stones that had fallen into the water.

The closer you approach the Giant Buddha, the clearer it seems why it took so long. The attention to detail is unrivaled, from curled hairs to wooden years. Furthermore, throughout the years, a robust drainage system to keep rainwater from entering the building has effectively avoided rusting.