Bingling Temple was originally named Tangshu Grotto, which means "Ghost Grotto" in the Qiang language. It was later renamed Longxing Temple and Lingyan Temple. After the Yongle Period of the Ming Dynasty, it got its current name from the Tibetan term meaning "Tens of Thousands of Buddhas". The grottoes are located in the Jishi Mountain on the north bank of the Yellow River, 50 kilometers west of Yongjing County, Linxia.

Divided into Upper Temple, Donggou and Lower Temple, the grottoes scatter along the red sandstone cliffs on both sides of the Dasi Valley, with layered caves and winding plank roads. The Lower Temple is the most spectacular section. Niches and statues are carved on the steep cliff stretching 2 kilometers, arranged in four tiers. Adjacent to the Yellow River, the whole scene is solemn and grand.

To this day, 183 caves and niches from the Western Qin, Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties are preserved here, along with nearly 800 stone statues, clay sculptures and stone-core clay figures, and around 900 square meters of murals. Works of the Tang Dynasty account for about two-thirds of the total, featuring exquisite craftsmanship, graceful and vibrant figures.

In Commentaries on the Water Classic · Yellow River, Li Daoyuan recorded: "There are two grottoes beside the river canyon. One is Tangshu Grotto, forty zhang high. Two li to the west lies Shiliang Grotto, a hundred zhang high, twenty zhang wide and thirty zhang deep."

Cave 169, carved out of a natural cave, is the largest one and believed to be the original Tangshu Grotto. It houses well-preserved Western Qin statues with powerful and vivid postures. The murals feature floating robes, gorgeous colors and elegant compositions, depicting the splendid scenery of the heavenly world. An inscription dated the 1st year of Jianhong reign of the Western Qin Dynasty (420 AD) inside is the earliest recorded inscription found among all grotto complexes across China.

Famous for stone carvings, relief pagodas and Esoteric Buddhist murals, Bingling Temple Grottoes, together with Mogao Grottoes and Maijishan Grottoes, are known as the Three Major Grottoes in Gansu. Travel 75 kilometers by car from Lanzhou to the Liujiaxia Dam, then transfer to a yacht. Sail across the 54-kilometer-long plateau lake, turn west into the canyon, pass the Sister Peaks, and you will arrive at the grottoes.