Yungang Grottoes

The Grottes at Datong is an attraction that should not be overlooked. These ancient caves house intricately carved Buddha statues dating back to 5th century. The craftsmanship and detail in these sculptures are truly remarkable, offering a glimpse into the artistry and spiritual devotion of the time. As you explore the caves, you'll be captivated by the serene expressions and the impressive scale of the statues. This site not only provides a unique cultural and historical experience but also allows visitors to reflect on the enduring legacy of ancient civilizations. A visit to the Grottes at Datong promises to be both enlightening and awe-inspiring.

Yungang Grottoes is considered one of the three most famous ancient Buddhist grotto complexes in China, together with: 🪨 Mogao Caves (Dunhuang) Known for its extraordinary murals and manuscripts A Silk Road cultural crossroads UNESCO World Heritage Site 🪨 Longmen Grottoes (Luoyang) Thousands of stone Buddhas carved along the Yi River Famous for its elegant Tang‑dynasty style Also UNESCO‑listed 🪨 Yungang Grottoes (Datong) Monumental Northern Wei carvings Over 51,000 statues, from tiny figures to 17‑meter Buddhas UNESCO World Heritage Site. I’ve visited the Yungang Grottoes a few times over the years, and they never lose their impact. No matter how familiar the site becomes, the scale and craftsmanship still stop me in my tracks. Thousands of Buddha statues — from tiny carvings to towering figures — each with its own expression and detail, make the whole place feel alive with history. Walking along the cliffside caves, you can sense the artistry and devotion that shaped this site more than 1,500 years ago. Every return visit reveals something new: a pattern in the stone I hadn’t noticed before, a preserved bit of colour, or simply a different atmosphere depending on the season. It’s one of those rare places that stays impressive no matter how many times you go.

The Yungang Grottoes in Datong are an impressive showcase of ancient Buddhist art, carved more than 1,500 years ago. There are hundreds of caves filled with thousands of statues, ranging from tiny intricate carvings to massive cliff-side Buddhas. The craftsmanship is stunning, with detailed expressions and details, and a mix of Indian, Central Asian, and Chinese artistic influences. Quite a big area.

Amazing stone carvings from >1000 yrs ago, from small colourful statues to huge solem Buddhas. Preserved quite well! It is also amazing that admission is free for people over 60, regardless of nationality too.

Beautiful history and very nice walk. It is definitely crowded in the summer vacation months though! Magnificent scale!

It's an amazing place, showing the spread of Buddhism across China. I'm comparing this to the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, and preferring that over this. The colors in Mogao are much more brilliant, perhaps because of better preservation n stricter management of tourists. At this Yungang Grottoes site, some of the old carvings are actually within reach of the public, and I clearly see children having a go at them while their parents click away. Still a good experience to see some amazing relics.

This one of the unesco sites to visit. The newly renovated place that stretch 1km for you to slowly walk to the actual sites. Amazing to see some many Grottoes build thousand years ago even in the AD! Thousand of the grottoes sculptures on the cave and carefully done by the skill that you can imagine thousand years ago. It has various sizes as tall as 4-5 storey height. Well preserved and impressive work by many of the artist in the past. You need to spend 2 hours there at a minimum to slowly walk and enjoy the Grottoes. Some with influence of Persian and Alexandra that clearly scripted on the cave. Worth a visit.

I will not even try to waste my words on describing the amount of things you can see here, I can only recommend you to go and visit it yourself. There are tiny statues, massive statues, beautiful caves, water with ducks around the sight, and overall too many things to be able to put in a single review. Simply wonderful!