Yungang Grottoes

云冈石窟

A Buddhist art treasure carved under the Northern Wei imperial house. This UNESCO World Heritage site holds more than 59,000 statues, and the Five Caves of Tanyao and the open-air Great Buddha in Cave 20 are must-sees.

The Yungang Grottoes were carved from the early Heping era of the Northern Wei (460 CE) until after the court moved to Luoyang under Emperor Xiaowen. Stretching about 1 km along the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain, they contain 45 main caves and more than 59,000 statues. Together with Mogao in Dunhuang and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, they are known as China’s three great grottoes, and they were inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 2001. The highlights fall into three sections. In the east, Caves 1–4 are later small caves. The middle section, Caves 5–13, is the finest: Caves 5 and 6 are twin caves from the era of Emperor Xiaowen, and the four walls and central pillar of Cave 6 are covered with carvings of the Buddha’s life story, earning it the name “the Foremost Grand Cave.” Caves 9–13, known as the Five Flowers Cave, are colorful, and their musician apsaras and honeysuckle-scroll motifs show strong Gandhara and Central Asian influence. In the west, Caves 16–20 are the Five Caves of Tanyao, the earliest carved. The open-air Great Buddha in Cave 20 stands 13.7 m tall with a full, round face and is the symbol of Yungang. Route: from the scenic gate, walk about 15 minutes through Tanyao Square, the Buddha Worship Avenue and the Lingyan Temple (a replica) to reach the grottoes. Visit from east to middle to west; the full tour takes more than 3 hours. A guide or audio guide is recommended. Tickets cost 120 yuan in peak season and 100 yuan off-season. Book through the official “Yungang Grottoes” mini-program with real-name registration. Photography is prohibited in Caves 5 and 6 and other caves. Getting there: Bus 603 from the city center takes about 1 hour, and a taxi takes about 40 minutes. Note: the grottoes area has no shade, so bring water in summer, and winters are windy and cold. The Yungang Museum inside the scenic area makes a good extension to the visit.

Yungang Grottoes

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