How can you not visit the Nankan Grottoes?
The Nankan Grottoes are located in the Nankan Scenic Area, No. 44, Nankan Road, Bazhou District, Bazhong City, Sichuan Province. There are dozens of cliff carvings on the cliffs of Nankanpo Mountain, which are hundreds of feet long and more than a hundred feet high. The carvings were first created during the Northern and Southern Dynasties, and as the temple continued to be built, a large group of grottoes was formed.
- Address: No. 38, Nankan Road, Bazhou District, Bazhong City, Sichuan Province
- Opening hours: 08:00-17:00 all year round
- Ticket price: CNY 40
- Scenic spot features:
- Long history: The Nankan Grottoes were first carved in the Sui Dynasty and flourished in the Tang Dynasty. They have a history of more than 1,300 years and are representative of Buddhist art during the peak period of grotto art in the Sui and Tang Dynasties.
- Large scale: There are currently 176 niches and more than 2,700 statues, one pagoda, 17 statue steles, one "petition" stele by Yan Wu (the shepherd of Bazhou in the Tang Dynasty), 35 inscriptions, and 51 poems and essays.
- High artistic value: The Nankan statues are religious art mainly based on Buddhism. The statues mainly include the "Dharmakaya Buddha", "Three Lives Buddha", "Sakyamuni Buddha", "Hariti Buddha", "Seven Buddhas", "Thousand Buddhas", "Amitabha Buddha", "Two-headed Buddha", "Guanyin Bodhisattva", "Cintamanicakra Guanyin", "Vaisravana", "Eight Dharma Protectors", etc. Most of the statues are works from the Tang Dynasty, Song Dynasty, and modern times. The Nankan Grottoes have a unique style and high artistic value.
- Rich cultural connotations: The Nankan Grottoes are not only a treasure of Buddhist art, but also a historical witness of ancient Bazhong culture. The inscriptions, poems, and essays in the grottoes reflect the social, economic, and cultural conditions at that time and have important historical research value.
- Transportation guide:
- Self-driving: Depart from Bazhong City and drive along Nankan Road for about 2 km to reach the Nankan Grottoes.
- Bus: Take bus No. 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 21, or 25 in Bazhong City, get off at "Nankanpo" station, and walk to the Nankan Grottoes.