Dazu Rock Carvings named on China's sunrise, sunset viewing map

The Baoding Mountain scenic area of the Dazu Rock Carvings in southwest China's Chongqing has been included on the China Meteorological Administration's "2026 National Autumn Sunrise and Sunset Viewing Map."

A view inside the Dazu Rock Carvings scenic area. [Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the CPC Dazu District Committee]

The map features 33 locations across 27 provincial-level regions in three categories: mountain peaks; rivers, lakes and seas; and cultural landscapes. Baoding Mountain was listed in the "cultural landscapes" category, which describes it as a place where the hues of sunrise and sunset bathe everyday life.

The Baoding Mountain Rock Carvings are regarded as the finest part of the Dazu Rock Carvings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Combined with shifting natural light and shadow, the ancient carvings create a distinctive interplay between cultural heritage and the surrounding landscape.

Visitors following the map to Dazu can watch morning mist and evening haze drift across the mountains.

A view of the Dazu Rock Carvings Museum. [Photo courtesy of the Publicity Department of the CPC Dazu District Committee]

In autumn, the rock carvings and the Dazu Rock Carvings Museum take on a distinctive character under the glow of the morning and evening skies.