Historical places of the world

16. Leshan Giant Buddha, China

Giant Buddha

Carved out of a red sandstone cliff wall, the Leshan Giant Buddha stands 71 meters and is the tallest stone Buddha in the world. Created in the 8th century, the statue looks out over the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu, and Qingyi Rivers, and was built with the hope that it would bestow calm waters for the boats that plowed this waterway.

You can view the Leshan Giant Buddha from very close range at either the base or near the head, each offering very different perspectives.

17. Easter Island

Easter Island

Easter Island is a Chilean island in the south Pacific Ocean, famous for the giant statues known as Moais, which dot the landscape. Created by the Rapa Nui people, who are thought to have inhabited the island from the 12th century onward, hundreds of Moais are spread around the island.

Some are partially toppled, while others stand erect; some stand on ahu (stone platforms), and many still remain at the quarry where they were created. Ranging in size from a meter to 20 meters, each carving is unique and thought to symbolize an ancestor.

Leshan