China's giant Buddha gets makeover

Buddha statue under wraps during clean-up

China has launched a major renovation of the world's largest Buddha statue, in the southwestern province of Sichuan.

The sitting Buddha, just outside the city of Leshan, is carved into a river bluff.

At 72 metres high, the statue is 18 metres taller than the biggest Buddha destroyed by the Taleban authorities at Bamiyan in Afghanistan last month.

Repair work is already under way

Carving of the Leshan Buddha dates back to the Tang dynasty. Work started on the statue in 713 AD and was completed in 803.

The body of the Buddha has a hidden water drainage system to prevent erosion. Repair work will be undertaken on the drainage system as well as the exterior of the figure.

The current renovation project will cost an estimated $30m, with $2m in World Bank loans.

The statue was included on the United Nations World Cultural Heritage list in 1996.

The Buddha statue will stand forever, through concerted protective efforts by all the Chinese people

Mayor Huang

Leshan Mayor Huang Mingquan said the city government would take measures to improve the air and water quality in the area where the Buddha statue is located. Acid rain is a key factor in the damage to the carving.

"The Buddha statue, which represents ancient China's high sculpturing standard, will stand forever in Leshan City, through concerted protective efforts by all the Chinese people," Huang said.