Yungang Grottoes, located at the foot of Mount Wuzhou in the western suburbs of Datong City, Shanxi Province, are one of the most famous grotto groups in China. The construction of Yungang Grottoes began during the Northern Wei Dynasty, specifically in the third year of Huangshi (398 AD). Emperor Tuoba Gui moved the capital from Shengle to Pingcheng (now Datong City), making Mount Wuzhou a key transportation route between Shengle and Pingcheng. After Emperor Wencheng ascended the throne, he commissioned the monk Tong Tan Yao to oversee the restoration of Buddhist activities. With the emperor's support, Tan Yao chose the picturesque Mount Wuzhou to "carve the mountain cliffs and build five caves with one Buddha each," marking the beginning of the Yungang Grottoes. Most of the caves were completed before the Northern Wei Dynasty moved its capital to Luoyang, but the sculpting work continued until the Zhengguang period (520-525 AD) of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The excavation of Yungang Grottoes lasted about 150 years, spanning the Northern Wei, Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, and Tang dynasties. There are currently 45 main caves and 252 smaller niches, housing over 59,000 stone carvings of Buddhas, making it a treasure in the Chinese grotto art collection [1].
The Yungang Grottoes are renowned for their grandeur, rich content, and exquisite carvings. The tallest Buddha statue reaches 17 meters, while the smallest is only a few centimeters. The grottoes not only incorporate Indian Gandhara Buddhist art but also integrate traditional Chinese artistic styles, holding a significant place in the history of world sculpture art. Today, the Yungang Grottoes have become a popular tourist destination for visitors from home and abroad, recognized as a national key cultural relic protection unit and a world-renowned artistic treasure. It is one of the three major grotto groups in China and a world-famous art treasure [2].
Yungang Grottoes were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001 and became a national 5A-level tourist attraction in 2007. They are also known as the first imperial grottoes in China, highlighting their historical and cultural significance. The grottoes are divided into eastern, central, and western zones according to their natural mountain layout. The traditional visiting route starts from the first cave in the east and proceeds westward to the 45th cave. If you have about two hours, you can mainly visit caves 5, 6, 9-13 (the Five Splendid Caves), and 16-20 (the Tan Yao Five Caves)
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