How unique are the Longmen Grottoes?

When talking about Luoyang, don’t think there are only peonies and water banquets! On the cliffs on both sides of the Yi River lies China's wildest "open-air sculpture exhibition" - the Longmen Grottoes. Here, there is not only the top-notch Buddha statue supervised by Empress Wu Zetian herself, but also large-scale figures made by ancient people using hammers and chisels. Today I will take you into the thousand-year-old caves and be a time traveler. I guarantee that the likes on your circle of friends will be as countless as the steps of Xiangshan Temple! 1. Vairocana Buddha: The Empress’s million-dollar photo retoucher Don’t be scared by the 17-meter-tall Buddha. If you look closely, you’ll find that Wu Zetian secretly beautified herself! The Buddha's almond eyes and smiling lips are said to be a 1:1 replica of the Queen's peak beauty at age 40. The best shooting spot is on the other side of the river. At 9 o'clock in the morning, the sunlight casts golden highlights on the Buddha. The carved details of the hair and folds of clothes are more delicate than AI modeling. Let me tell you a secret: the Buddha’s toes are thicker than your waist. If you stand next to them and take a photo, you’ll instantly turn into a Hobbit! 2. Binyang Three Caves: The Versailles of the Northern Wei Dynasty Royal Family These three VIP caves will let you understand what "money power" means. The Sakyamuni statue in the middle cave has built-in beauty contact lens effect, and the Yaksha brother under the lotus throne fails to control his facial expression, just like you going to work on Monday. Don’t miss the internet-famous Buddha statue with the scissor-hand gesture in Beidong - it is actually making the "V" sign, but modern people have turned it into a meme that has lasted for thousands of years. It is recommended that you bring a flashlight to illuminate the flying fairy reliefs on the wall. The thin and translucent ribbons of the dress will definitely make you exclaim "WTF"! 3. Ten Thousand Buddha Caves: People with trypophobia should be careful when entering! What would it be like when 15,000 small Buddha statues gather together? The walls here seem to be sprinkled with Buddhist sesame seeds, and the smallest Buddha statue is only 2 cm! Look for the little Buddha heads that have been rubbed until they are shiny - these are all metaphysical manipulations by tourists to pray for good luck in exams and good marriage. The lotus relief on the ceiling has a 3D effect, and if you stare at it for a long time it will feel like it is spinning in circles. Remember to look up when you exit the cave. The fat flying fairy on the door lintel is performing splits in the air. The cuteness of people in the Tang Dynasty was truly unique! 4. Guyang Cave: A pilgrimage copy for calligraphers. Here is hidden the top IP in the calligraphy world - Twenty Pieces of Longmen! The wealthy people in the Northern Wei Dynasty showed off their wealth not by sharing cars or houses, but by carving words on the walls of caves to compete in calligraphy. Scan the QR code next to it with your mobile phone, and you can see the details of the pen strokes magnified ten times, which is more exciting than watching live streaming of goods. Look for the statue with the word "Bhikkhuni" engraved on it. The story of the female monk is even more exciting than "The Legend of Zhen Huan". It is recommended to download the calligraphy dictionary APP in advance. Recognizing characters on the spot is more exciting than playing escape room! 5. Xiangshan Temple: Bai Juyi’s retirement home. Don’t rush to leave after climbing the grottoes, the Xiangshan Temple on the opposite bank hides Bai Juyi’s happy hometown! Back then, Lao Bai set up a "Nine Elders Association" here, which was equivalent to the Tang Dynasty version of the Senior Citizens' University. The Republic of China-style balcony in the Chiang-Song villa is a hidden camera position that can capture the panoramic view of the Xishan Grottoes on the mobile phone. The trip will not be in vain if the bell tower rings three times, and the echo can float along the Yi River to Longmen Bridge. On the way down the mountain, you will pass by the Qianlong Imperial Stele Pavilion. See if the emperor's handwriting looks better than your signature. 6. Bai Garden: A large-scale star-chasing scene. The tomb of the poet Bai Juyi has become a Tang Dynasty cultural theme park! The full text of "Pipa Xing" is engraved in the poetry gallery. As you read along, you will find that there are many characters you don't recognize (don't panic, everyone has this experience). Japanese fans have erected so many stone tablets that they could form a boy band, which shows Lao Bai's status in the ancient idol circle. If you listen to Yiting for a while, you might get the same inspiration as "Late at night, I suddenly dream of my youth". The Q-version bookmark of Bai Juyi in the cultural and creative store is a must-buy. Praying it before the exam may inspire you to have a burst of inspiration! 7. Dongshan Grottoes: A less popular treasure-hunting site that tourist groups don’t like to visit. Dongshan is the real attraction! The 29 arhats in Kanjing Temple look like emoticons. Some are leaning their chins on their hands thinking about life, and some are giving thumbs up. It is as if you are watching the Tang Dynasty version of "Workplace Life". There are mysteries hidden in the walls of the Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin Cave. You win if you count how many hands there are (hint: it’s definitely less than you think). Those who are physically fit can challenge the three caves of Leigutai, climb to the top of the mountain to overlook the panoramic view of Yique, and instantly understand what "Gateway to the Capital of Gods" means! 8. Night Tour Dungeon: The Buddha Light Show is a history lesson during the day and turns into a science fiction movie at night! When the Vairocana Buddha was shrouded in golden beams of light, a parallel time and space seemed to open up in the reflection of the Yi River. The dome of the Lotus Cave turns into a giant kaleidoscope under the lights, and even people with trypophobia would exclaim, "It smells so good." Remember to bring a tripod to shoot time-lapse photos. The flowing light and shadow can make the Buddha statue look like it is blinking! It is open every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday nights in limited quantities. The lucky ones who got the tickets remember to post 18 squares to show off~ 9. Longmen Museum: An underestimated blind box warehouse. Don’t be fooled by its low-key sign! The Wall of Thousand Buddhas on the underground floor was so shocking that it gave me goose bumps. It was like the entire Longmen Grottoes were miniaturized into a glass cabinet. The interactive screen can rotate the Buddha statue 360°, and even the small words of the donors on the base can be clearly seen. The museum’s treasure is a plain-looking stone – look carefully! There are scratches left by the fingernails of ancient craftsmen on it, and I instantly imagined a scene of a worker chiseling stone while scolding the client. The Buddha head ice cream in the creative store has matcha and strawberry flavors. The ice cream stick can be used as a bookmark after eating~ 10. Yi River Cruise: Spend 50 yuan on the God’s Perspective Experience Card to unlock the same sightseeing route as the ancients! The moment you cross the Longmen Bridge by boat, the cliffs on both sides unfold like a giant screen movie. It is recommended to choose a flight at sunset, when the Vairocana Buddha will gradually change from gold to rose gold, which is more beautiful than any mobile phone filter. The boatmen are all hidden joke tellers. They will point to the small hole on the mountain and say, "Look! That's the hole where Wu Zetian removed her makeup." We headed straight to Longmen Ancient Town after getting off the boat. The peony bird’s nest in the water banquet was delicious and photogenic. When I posted it on WeChat Moments, everyone asked if it was a work of art! 【Longmen Survival Guide】 ✅ Wear non-slip shoes! The steps of the grotto are worn so hard that you can skate on them. ✅ Bring a bottle of mineral water, the vending machines in scenic spots often act up ✅ Take portraits in the morning at Xishan Grottoes, and take silhouettes in the afternoon. ✅ Xiangshan Temple offers free Hanfu experience, but it is limited and depends on your hand speed ✅ Don’t touch the Buddha statue! Don't say I didn't warn you that you'd be yelled at by security. ✅ Remember to bring your notebook if you want to stamp. You can collect all the dragon balls at the 7 check-in points. Standing at the foot of Fengxian Temple, looking at the smile of the Vairocana Buddha that has traveled through 1,300 years, you will suddenly understand what "a thousand years at a glance" means. Every chisel mark here is the ancients’ circle of friends, and every Buddha statue is telling a story that is yet to be continued. From Dongshan to Xishan, from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the prosperous Tang Dynasty, half of China's Buddhist art history can be collected in one day. Hurry up and @your history class representative and come to Luoyang to be a time traveler! After all, who can refuse the opportunity to meet Wu Zetian in person~ 🚀