About Longmen Grottoes
The Longmen Grottoes are a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring over 100,000 Buddhist statues carved into limestone cliffs along the Yi River, south of Luoyang. The grottoes span 1 kilometer of cliff face on both sides of the river, with creation spanning 400 years from the Northern Wei (493 AD) to the Tang Dynasty (9th century).
The largest statue, Vairocana Buddha in Fengxian Temple, stands 17 meters tall and is believed to be modeled after Empress Wu Zetian. The smallest statues are only 2 centimeters high. The grottoes also contain over 2,500 inscriptions and 60 pagodas, making them one of the finest examples of Chinese stone carving art. The site is best visited in the afternoon when the sun illuminates the west cliff face. Night visits (seasonal) offer a dramatically different experience with illuminated statues.
What Not to Miss
Fengxian Temple — home to the 17-meter Vairocana Buddha, the largest statue.
Binzhong San Dong — three caves from the Northern Wei period with exquisite carvings.
The Yi River views — the river between the cliffs creates a beautiful setting.
