Originally started in the first year of Emperor Yonghui (yǒng huī dì 永徽帝) of the Tang Dynasty (táng cháo 唐朝, 618-907), the Dazu Grottos (dài zú shí kè 大足石刻) had been enlarged and rebuilt up through the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). As one of ancient China's most valuable treasures,They were declared a National Key Cultural Relics Protected Unit in 1961, and in 1999 they were listed as a World Culture Heritage Site  by the UNESCO Heritage Committee.

In Dazu county of Chongqing city, reputed as Land of Stone Sculptures,The stone carvings of Dazu consist mainly of Buddhist images. there are more than 50,000 figures and are primarily Buddhist in theme. They are a complete system of Buddhist doctrine carved in three dimensions. In the center of the largest grotto complex is a large carving of Sakyamuni, the Buddha, which is surrounded by over 20 different statues of his followers. Each cave in the Dazu Grottos has its own style and each carving is beautifully carved and exquisitely detailed. Some 50,000 carvings were begun in 892 AD and carved in the ensuing Five Dynasties and Northern and Southern Song, or over a span of some 250 years. In addition to Buddhist and Daoist art, there are also Buddhist, Daoist, and Confucian statues that stand together in one grotto of which the 'Mizong' or Tantric (esoteric) Buddhist statues predominate.
The carvings were carved out of the cliff face using only primitive tools and man-power. The Dazu Grottos are world famous for their richness in content and the large variety of subject matter. They mix Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism. Buddhism theology was combined with folklore which made them easy to understand for laypeople.

The collection of statures located at the foot of Baoding Hill (bǎo dǐng shān 宝鼎山) and North Hill (běi shān 北山) is the largest in scale and highest in artistic value. The statues sculptured in the Song Dynasty are the best preserved and most well-known for their characteristics, tastes and interesting plots.

The Baoding Hill
The Baoding carvings are to the northeast of Dazu City, among the most beautiful mountains. Buddhist disciples have traditionally brought incense to the sacred place and there is a saying 'look up towards Emei, look down towards Baoding'. The Song-dynasty Emperor Zhao Zhifeng was the instigator of the many Buddhist carvings in this region. thirteen places on the mountains hold around ten thousand sculptures that were accomplished over seventy years, from 1179 to 1249.

In addition to displaying Song dynasty sculptural art, these are of interest for their narrative appeal: they tell about the birth of Buddha, about the nature of change, about heaven, hell, cause and effect, and especially about people. Normal people, including farmers, are shown working in the carvings, also singing and dancing, drinking wine, pursuing the various tasks of daily life.
Stone statues were scattered over an area of 2.5 square kilometers, particularly in Dafowan (dà fó
wān 大佛湾) where most valuable sculptures were concentrated. Dafowan is a huge gorge in U shape with a length of 500 meters. Stone sculptures were hewn out along the cliffs. The most outstanding of them are the "Thousand-Arm Goddess of Mercy (qiān shǒu guān yīn 千手观音)" and the Sleeping Buddha (shuì fó 睡佛). The former holds in her 1007 hands various objects such as Buddhist magic formulas, weapons of ancient times, musical instruments, jade ornaments, silk fabrics, production tools, and articles for daily use. Her arms and hands look exquisite and graceful in their myriad postures: raised or down, extended or withdrawn, relaxed or clenched etc. This fully shows the extraordinary talent and skill of ancient artists.The Sleeping Buddha is grand and imposing. Other attractions include Xiaofowan (xiǎo fó wān 小佛湾), Daota (dào tǎ 倒塔), Wansuilou (wàn suì lóu 万岁楼), Shengshousi (shèng shòu sì 圣寿寺) etc. Shengshousi (Temple of Sacred Longevity) constructed at the foot of the Hill, is made up of lofty halls and pavilions with double eaves and exquisite carvings. Weimo Hall stands at the top and houses a sleeping statue of Weimo, a lay Buddhist, and 77 round shrines with small Buddhist statues above a stone platform. The Temple is surrounded by luxuriant cypresses. 

North Hill                                                                                                                    The cliffs at Fowan covered with stone carvings along its 250 meter length are honey-combed with niches. 

Tansportation:                                                                          if you are in chongqing,take a nonstop highway-coach to dazu  county in Caiyuanba inter-city bus station (cài yuán bà
qì jū zhàn 菜园坝汽车站), or chenjiaping inter-city bus station (chén jiā píng qì jū zhàn 陈家坪汽车站). 20min for a next.It will you take you 90min about. Bus fee:RMB40
If you are in dazu county (dà zú 大足), take a bus,only 3-5yuan,or by taxi:10yuan.
Admission fee:                                                                 Baoding Hill: RMB80
North Hill: RMB60
coupon ticket: RMB120 
                                  The best tourist season: 4~10
                                  Address: Chongqing City, Dazu County 
                                  Tel: 86-23-43722118