Baxianshan Buddha. (Photo/newssc.org)

On Baxianshan Mountain in Pingshan County, located in southwest China's Sichuan province, there is a 32-meter-high standing Buddha, which has been named the Baxianshan Buddha. Since the Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan were blown up in 2001, this Buddha has become the world's largest standing Buddha. It features relief carving and reaches the height of a 10-storey building.

Some archaeologists estimate that the standing Buddha was carved during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), which would make it about 400 years old. However, the questions of who carved the Buddha and why that person did it are still unanswered. There is no documentation, and the origin of the Buddha is a mystery. 

The "Encyclopedia of China" lists this Buddha among the ten biggest Buddhas in the world, saying that it has great artistic, cultural and research value. However, the book says nothing about its origin.

In order to better protect this Buddha, the government of Pingshan County, together with several historic preservation societies, is now revisiting the mystery, hoping to shed some light on the story of the Baxianshan Buddha.