By Jieyu Wang, iChongqing

Chongqing – On July 16, university student representatives from the UK came to Chongqing Dazu district to visit the world cultural heritage site that is the Dazu Rock Carvings.

Thousand Hand Guanyin in the Dazu Rock Carvings

The Dazu Rock Carvings are situated in Dazu district, about 165 kilometers from the urban area of Chongqing Municipality. The highlights of the rock grotto are found on Mount Baoding and Mount Beishan. They were first chiseled in Tang and Song dynasties, depicting and influenced by Buddhist, Confucian and Taoist beliefs. 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.

Reclining Buddha in the Dazu Rock Carvings

The Stunning  Dazu Rock Carvings

“The visit to the Dazu Rock Carvings is an amazing experience for us.  We can not only learn Chinese and also understand Chinese traditional culture. The carvings have a long history and contain many allusions. They reflect the profound cultural precipitation of the Chinese, which are so stunning." said Gao Wanli, the teacher of Chinese Bridge representatives from the UK.

Chinese Bridge representatives from the UK and their teacher in Dazu Rock Carvings.

“After listening to the guides, I gradually understood the profound implication and vast Chinese culture behind these rock carvings, which deepened my understanding of traditional Chinese culture,” said James Holmes, a student at the University of Leeds, shared his feeling about the carvings. He was awarded the 2019 Chinese tourism promotion ambassador status at the recently concluded Chinese Bridge competition.

James Holmes was being interviewed by iChongqing

Ahmad Elmouniery, the first prize winner of the 2019 UK division of Chinese bridge competition, said, “stunning, there is just one word to describe it. The carvings depict the life of the ancient Chinese people during the Tang and Song dynasties. They contain three kinds of thoughts: Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taoism, which make me become more immersed in traditional Chinese culture when I visit these rock carvings."

The carvings were declared as world material cultural heritage in 1999. "Currently, foreign visitors account for 5% of the total page views," said Zhao Gang, the deputy director of the monitoring center of the Dazu Rock Carvings Research Institute. "There are English and Japanese explanations of the scenic spot, which makes it easier for foreign friends to understand the culture and allusions of the carvings." 

Chinese Bridge representatives listen to the commentator’s English introduction of the Dazu Rock Carvings

 Zhao also mentioned the Dazu Rock Carvings would expand the overseas influence of carvings through holding research activities, world cultural heritage roving exhibitions, making documentaries in Chinese and English and other means. The goal is to enhance the overseas market vitality of the carvings and to let more people all over the world know about the carvings and learn about Chinese culture through the sculptures in relief.

The rapid development of Chongqing impressed the students

“The Chinese Bridge competition has been held 18 times and been held in the UK for 18 consecutive years", Gao told iChongqing. "Our visit to Chongqing is an extension and breakthrough of the Chinese Bridge competition. We were invited by the school of international education of Chongqing University for a one-week exchange visit."

"This city is absolutely beautiful, and there are so many things I love about it," Ahmad Elmouniery told iChongqing. “It’s quite impressive to see how a city developed so quickly.  Yesterday we had a lecture from a teacher who was born in Chongqing. He was showing off photos he took of Jiefangbei years ago and then we went to the area. The change was absolutely huge."

iChongqing interviewed Ahmad Elmouniery

According to Huang Zhijun, the teacher from the school of international education of Chongqing University, the delegation of Chinese Bridge competition from the UK also visited the People's Great Hall, the Three Gorges Museum, Huguang Guild Hall of Chongqing, Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, and Jiefangbei. Such Chongqing cultural landmarks and attractions demonstrated the native culture of Chongqing.