The Leshan Grand Buddha is located at the foot of Mt Lingyun and the infall of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi Rivers. At a height of 71m, it is the largest stone-carved buddha figure in the world. Construction of the Leshan Grand Buddha first commenced in 713 AD during the Tang Dynasty and was only completed 90 years later in 803 AD. The Grand Buddha was constructed with the sole purpose of exerting some control over the annual floods that had brought untolled sufferings to the people living in the area. Strangely enough, after the completion of the construction of the Grand Buddha, the flood waters had never again rose beyond the feet of the Buddha statue.