Yungang Grottoes / Datong Attactions

Yungang Grottoes is situated at the southern foot of Wuzhou Hill 16 kilometers west of Datong. It is one of the three major cave complexes in China along with Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes, Luoyang's Longmen Caves. Yungang Grottoes were built in the northern cliff of Mt Wuzhou and extend about 1 km (0.62 miles) from east to west. The construction of the caves was started under the auspices of the noted monk Tan Yao in 453, the second year of the Xingan reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty, more than 1,500 years ago and took 50 years to finish. With its 53 existing rock caves and over 51000 statues, Yungang Grottoes is a treasure house of ancient Buddhist art, the largest of its kind in China. Grottos No. 5-20 in the central zone are the most glorious part of the whole complex.

Grotto No. 5 contains the biggest, 17-meter tall Buddha sculpture, screened by a four-story wooden facade from the Qing Dynasty. Grotto No. 6 depicts the life of Sakyamuni, from the day of his birth up to the time of his achieving Buddha-hood. Grottos No. 16-20 are the earliest of the Yungang Grottos. Sculptures inside these five caves symbolize the five Northern Wei rulers. Yungang Grottoes was added to UNESCO's World Heritage List in 2001.