The Xumi Mountain Grottoes

The Xumi Mountain Grottoes are located in Yuanzhou District, Guyuan City, Ningxia, situated on the northern slopes of the Xumi Mountain on the northwest side of the city. They were first carved during the Taihe period of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty, and have seen large-scale construction during the Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, and renovations and redecorations during the Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. It is the largest ancient Buddhist monastery in Guyuan, continuing for more than 1,500 years, and is one of China's earliest top ten grottoes. There are currently 162 grottoes in the Xumi Mountain Grottoes, with more than 900 statues of various sizes, distributed over 8 mountain peaks spanning 2 kilometers. The Xumi Mountain is located on the throat of the northern route of the eastern section of the Silk Road, and is a necessary path for the eastward spread of Buddhism. Grotto No. 5 is a horseshoe-shaped cliff grotto carved during the Tang Dynasty. The grotto has a width of 15.4 meters at the foot, a depth of 20 meters, and a height of 22 meters, making it one of the largest grottoes in Xumi Mountain. According to the stele inscription of 'The Record of the Reconstruction of the Yuan Guang Temple Big Buddha Tower': before the Ming Dynasty Chenghua period, there was a wooden grotto eaves tower in front of the grotto chamber, and the remaining beam holes are the clear evidence. The large Maitreya Buddha sitting in the center of the grotto is 20.6 meters high, which is the largest stone statue in Xumi Mountain and one of the largest stone statues in the country's grottoes. The Buddha's head is 5 meters, the ears are 3 meters long, and the toes are faintly visible. The Xumi Mountain Grottoes are strategically located on the mountain, scattered among the mountains. As we follow the rocky paths, although there are trails built by the scenic area, the conditions are similar to the climbing route we took to the ancient cliff dwellings in Yanqing, Beijing, twenty years ago, with some gravel sections still quite slippery. To approach the grottoes, one must proceed with caution and move slowly. Seeing the grottoes and cliff carvings chiseled out of the bizarre rocks among the mountains, we marvel at the magnificent feat created by ancient craftsmen with rudimentary tools!