The Statues on the One-Thousand Buddha Cliff are located at
the foot of Baihu Mountain in Liufu Village, Licheng County, Shandong Province.
The stone carvings are major relics from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) found in
Shandong Province, containing over 210 statues and 43 inscriptions along the
63-meter-long cliff from north to south. The statues were mostly carved during
618-684, as well as in the later dynasties. There are also five bigger caves
with 2.6-meter-tall statues of noble people, such as government officials,
relatives of emperors and famous monks. The most famous statues are of Princess
Nanping and her husband, Liu Xuanyi.
The Dragon and Tiger (Longhu) Pagoda, located near the statues, is a famous
pagoda, with its name for the dragon and tiger carved on the gate lintel.
Although there is no accurate record for the carvings, judging form the
character of the construction, it is believed the pagoda was built during the
Tang Dynasty and enlarged in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The 10.8-meter-tall,
square pagoda was built with bricks and stones. Its body was carved with
dragons, tigers, Buddha and flying Apsaras, all of which reveal the Tang style.
The three-layered stone base is decorated with relief sculptures of lotus
flowers and lions. The roof of the pagoda is brick and there are Buddha niches
in the chamber walls with flying Apsaras carved on the top of the niches. In the
center of the chamber is a square pillar with Buddha engravings on both sides
from the Song Dynasty. The pagoda is famous for its delicate design and