This Time, a '600-Year-Old Buddha Statue' Emerges from the Severely Dried Yangtze River

Experts Say "Presumed to Be from the Ming or Qing Dynasty"

Photo by South China Morning Post (SCMP) capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Nayeon] Amid severe drought caused by a record-breaking heatwave in China, three Buddha statues dating back 600 years were discovered as the Yangtze River dried up.

On the 18th, Hong Kong media outlet South China Morning Post (SCMP) reported that three statues estimated to be about 600 years old were found in the Yangtze River basin in Chongqing, southwestern China.

The discovery site is part of the Yangtze River's watercourse, where continuous drought has caused the river's water level to drop to its lowest in 150 years, revealing the statues, SCMP reported.

All the statues are Buddha statues, believed to have been carved from a large rock at the top of a cliff. In the center, there is a Buddha statue about 1 meter tall on a lotus pedestal, flanked by two smaller Buddha statues on either side, creating a balanced composition.

Experts believe the statues were created to pray for the safety of people crossing the river by boat and estimate they date back to the Ming or Qing dynasty. The statues are known to be in very good condition and have high academic value.

Meanwhile, China has recently been experiencing heatwaves exceeding 40 degrees Celsius daily, mainly in the southwestern region. The China Meteorological Administration stated that this is the longest and worst heatwave since weather observations began in 1961.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.