🗿 Longmen Grottoes
China
About This Sacred Site
The Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang in Henan Province are one of China's three most celebrated Buddhist cave sculpture sites. Stretching for one kilometer along both banks of the Yi River, the site contains over 2,300 caves and niches with more than 110,000 Buddhist stone statues, 60 pagodas, and 2,800 inscriptions. Carved primarily during the Northern Wei and Tang dynasties from 493 to 1127 CE, the sculptures represent the pinnacle of Chinese stone carving artistry. The largest statue, the Vairocana Buddha at the Fengxian Temple, stands 17 meters tall and is considered a masterpiece of Tang dynasty art.
Key Facts
- •Contains over 110,000 Buddhist statues carved between 493 and 1127 CE
- •The Vairocana Buddha at Fengxian Temple stands 17 meters tall
- •Over 2,300 caves stretch for one kilometer along the Yi River
- •The site contains 2,800 inscribed stone tablets recording ancient history
- •UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000
Location
Coordinates: 34.5657, 112.4710
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