Yungang Grottoes

Background

The Yungang Grottoes are about 16 km west of Datong, Shanxi, at the southern foot of Mount Wuzhou in the Shili River valley. The caves are cut into a sandstone cliff about 800 m long and 9 to 18 m high. According to the official count, there are 45 major caves, 252 large and small niches and more than 59,000 stone statues; another count gives 53 major caves, 51,000 niches and about 1100 minor caves, using different criteria. Caves 16 to 20, known as the "Five Caves of Tanyao", were the first to be carved, each with one colossal Buddha; Caves 5 and 6 form a pair, and in Cave 6 a central pagoda pillar rises from floor to ceiling, with reliefs covering the walls; the Great Buddha of Cave 20 sits in the open air and is the most iconic image of Yungang. The Northern Wei adopted Buddhism as its state religion early on, and Yungang was a royal project of its capital period at Pingcheng (present-day Datong). The statues fuse Buddhist art from South and Central Asia, and Buddhism itself arrived along the northern Silk Road. In 2001 the Yungang Grottoes were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

Local customs

• Walk along the cliff from east to west: first the colossal Buddhas of the Five Caves of Tanyao, then Caves 5 and 6 for the twin caves and pagoda-pillar reliefs, and finally Cave 12 for fine carvings such as musicians playing the pipa and sheng
• the exhibitions on site help you understand the carving phases and the conservation history.

Travel tips

• The visit is mostly on foot, with an open square in front of the caves and ups and downs between them, so wear comfortable non-slip shoes
• protect yourself from the sun in summer and from wind and sand on dusty days. Tickets and opening hours are as announced by the official sources
• holidays are crowded, so try to visit off-peak.
• From central Datong a bus or taxi to the site takes about half an hour, and Datong South Station and Yungang Airport both have transport links to the city
• check official sources for details. You can visit in any season
• spring and autumn are mild and best for long outdoor visits
• summer sun is strong, so use sun protection and drink plenty of water
• winter is cold and dry, and the cliff face and walkways may ice over, so slow down.