Southwest China · Sichuan
Leshan, located in southwestern Sichuan Province, is a historic city renowned for its dual World Heritage sites (Leshan Giant Buddha and Mount Emei). Nestled between mountains and rivers, it enjoys a mild, humid climate and is famous for tourism and cuisine. As a fifth-tier city with low living costs, it offers international students an authentic experience of Southwest China.
Leshan, historically known as Jiazhou, has a long history dating back to the Spring and Autumn period. The city is globally famous for the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world's largest stone-carved Maitreya Buddha, carved during the Tang Dynasty over 90 years—a masterpiece of Buddhist culture and ancient engineering. Leshan is also a top tourist city and a national historical and cultural city, home to Mount Emei (one of China's four sacred Buddhist mountains) and Dongfengyan Weir, both UNESCO World Heritage sites. Economically, Leshan relies on tourism while developing electronics, new energy, and food processing industries, with steady growth in recent years. In education, it hosts Leshan Normal University and the Engineering Technical College of Chengdu University of Technology, offering Chinese language courses and cultural exchange programs for international students. Life here is slow-paced, affordable, and locals are friendly. With high green coverage and good air quality, it's suitable for long-term living. For international students, Leshan is an ideal place to learn Chinese, experience Bashu culture, and explore nature and heritage.
