Datong, Shanxi: Yungang Grottoes - Treasure of Oriental Stone Carving Art

Foreigners are taking photos in front of the Buddhist sculptures of Yungang Grottoes. [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Datong Municipal Committee]

To the south of Wuzhou Mountain and north of Shili river, Yungang Grottoes has been standing there for more than 1,500 years while still being magnificent.

Yungang Grottoes site is one of the three top cave clusters in China. Cut along the mountain, the grottoes stretches for 1 kilometer from the east to the west, with 254 remaining grottoes in different sizes, 45 main grottoes, and 59,000 sculptures. Yungang Grottoes represents the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art, the long history of culture convergence and the top level of stone carving in the world. In March, 1961, Yungang Grottoes site was declared the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units, and inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in December, 2001.

Yungang Grottoes has absorbed and blended Indian, Middle- and West Asian culture, with Greek and Roman art elements. Among all grottoes, the sixth is known as the most magnificent one, and a masterpiece in the history of world sculptural art.

Yungang Grottoes [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Datong Municipal Committee]

Yungang Grottoes [Photo via the Publicity Department of the CPC Datong Municipal Committee]

Yungang Grottoes is the essence of oriental stone carving art, and also a great example of the combination of Chinese and western cultures. It plays a significant role in the Chinese and even the world's art history, and is one of the three top cave clusters in China. The other two are Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang.

Now, Yungang scenic area has been built into a topnotch cultural tourism scenic area. With convenient tourism experience, complete facilities, elegant environment and comprehensive management system, Yungang scenic area has become one of the most popular travel destinations for tourists at home and abroad.