China record floods wet feet of Leshan Giant Buddha
A giant statue of Buddha in China has had its toes dampened by floodwater for the first time since the 1940s.
China record floods wet feet of Leshan Giant Buddha A giant statue of Buddha in China has had its toes dampened by floodwater for the first time since the 1940s. The 71m-tall statue, a UNESCO heritage site, was carved out of a rockface near Chengdu in Sichuan province around the eighth century AD. It is normally high above the waterline, but the area has been hit by the worst flooding in 70 years. More than 100,000 people have had to be moved to safety. The statue is a hugely popular attraction and often included in cruises along the nearby Yangtze river and Three Gorges. State media said 180 tourists had be rescued from the site as water rose. The statue normally sits high above the waterline, as seen here in February-By Getty Images Tourists and pilgrims arrive by boat to burn offerings at the Buddha's feet-By Getty Images
