The Yungang Grottoes' Northern Wei Buddha statues are considered the artistic pinnacle of Chinese sculpture

Yungang Grottoes, known as a treasure trove of Chinese Buddhist art, is one of China's three major grottoes and a World Cultural Heritage site. Located at No. 1, Yungang Town, Yungang District, Datong City, Shanxi Province, China, the scenic area covers 18 square kilometers. It currently has 45 main caves, 209 subsidiary caves, and over 51,000 carved statues, making it the largest ancient grotto art site in China. The Yungang Grottoes were built between 460 and 494 AD, taking 39 years to complete. The construction was led by a monk named Yang Baimei, who held a high status in Buddhism. He had traveled to India to obtain scriptures and later built a temple in Datong. During the Eastern Wei period, he built this Buddhist temple to commemorate his father. The exquisite Northern Wei Buddha statues are lifelike, with vivid and expressive faces. Among the Yungang Grottoes, 11 Buddha statues each have 12 carved sutras. The facial expressions of these statues are very vivid and expressive—some are kind and solemn, some dignified and serious, some lively and adorable, and some compassionate and empathetic. The craftsmanship of these statues is superb, with vividly lifelike and diverse depictions of bodhisattvas, arhats, vajras, flying apsaras, and more, all wonderfully exquisite. A visit to Datong must include the Yungang Grottoes! This is truly a place full of historical atmosphere! Every Buddha statue here is carved with incredible detail, making one marvel at the amazing skills of ancient craftsmen! There are also many historical stories and legends here, such as the "Human-faced Buddha" and the "Phoenix Flying to Heaven." In short, this is a place definitely worth visiting!