Leshan

Leshan or Loshan, city (1994 est. pop. 384,300), central Sichuan prov., China, just S of Chengdu, on the Min River. Heavy industry is the city's largest source of income; agriculture and light industry are also important. Nearby are decorated grottoes, a colossal stone Buddha, and the sacred peak Emei. Leshan was formerly called Jiading or Kiating.

Leshan (literally meaning "happy mountain") is a prefecture-level city located in the Sichuan province of the People's Republic of China. Leshan is on the southwestern fringe of the Red Basin in southern Sichuan, about 120 km from Chengdu.

Administrative divisions

• Shizhong District (市中区)
• Shawan District (沙湾区)
• Wutongqiao District (五通桥区)
• Jinkouhe District (金口河区)
• Emeishan City (峨眉山市)
• Qianwei County (犍为县)
• Jingyan County (井研县)
• Jiajiang County (夹江县)
• Muchuan County (沐川县)
• Ebian Yi Autonomous County (峨边彝族自治县)
• Mabian Yi Autonomous County (马边彝族自治县)

Transport

There is a passenger rail line that serves the Mianyang–Chengdu–Leshan inter-city area.

Historic monuments

In 1996, the Mount Emei Scenic Area, including the Leshan Giant Buddha, the largest stone-carved buddha in the world, was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Mount Emei is located in the city of Emei Shan which is governed by Leshan.

Ancestral home of the Chinese writer, academic and politician Guo Moruo is preserved in the Shawan District of Leshan.

Local dialect

The Leshan dialect, part of the Southern linguistic system, is very different from the dialects of other cities in the provence of Sichuan, which belong to the Northern system. Some researchers say the pronunciation of Leshan dialects represent an archaic form of Chinese pronunciation.

Sister cities

Leshan has two sister cities.

• Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
• Gilbert, Arizona, USA

References

External links

• Official Site