The art of Dazu, which emerged in the late Tang Dynasty (618- 907AD) and flourished in the Song Dynasty (960-1127) represents an important chapter in China's cultural and religious history. 

In the treasure of Dazu stone sculptures, the well designed groups of nineteen grand reliefs cover a wide scope of artistic themes, and most of them present Buddhist figures as human beings and depict scenes from everyday life. They are rarely seen in any other part of the world. 

The special cultural atmosphere makes the boom of folk sculpture art in Dazu. As a result, in addition to a great variety of the artistic works, all of the products, such as stone lion, stone ink slab and stone statue of Buddha are quite delicate and vivid. 

Over 60,000 carved stone figures relating mainly to Buddhism are spread around 76 places within Dazu County, 160 kilometres to the west of Chongqing. The content and craftsmanship are best at Beishan (North Hill) and Baoding (Treasure Peak) Mountain.

Baoding (Treasure Peak) Mountain, fifteen kilometers northeast of Dazu, is well known for its comprisal of more than ten thousand magnificent sculptures that scattered over an area of 2.5 square kilometers. Those located in Dafowan are best preserved. 

Dafowan is a U-shaped range of hills about fifteen to thirty meters high and some five hundred meters long. The statue carved on the eastern, southern and northern cliff sides of the valley are patterned in accordance with the terrain of the hills, resulting in natural and magnificent structure. 

Consisted of more than 1,5000 stone sculptures in 19 groups of the Buddhist stories, the statues in this grotto look so marvelous that each of them is portrayed in different pose and with a different expression. They are worth appreciating. 

The Yuan Jue (Total Awakening) Grotto at the hilltop was created in a whole rock, so it is quite specious. In the center of the cave stand three Buddhas. In front of the main Buddha stands a knelling Bodhisattva with his head down and his palms put together with reverent attention. On the either side before the wall there stand twelve Bodhisattvas who sit cross-legged on a lotus throne striving to attain enlightenment. The reining cave walls are carved into temples, trees, mountains, flowers, and heavenly and earthly beings.

In 1999, the Dazu Stone Sculptures was declared as 'World Cultural And Natural Heritage' by the UNESCO.