[2025 Datong Attraction] Travel Guide for Grotto Museum (Updated Apr)

📍 Itinerary Overview City centre, yungang grotto, the hanging temple 🚩 Sightseeing Route Didi is super cheap in Datong, easy to use thru Alipay 🏠 Accommodation 1.Tiangui International Hotel 💡

The Yungang Grottoes, a millennium-old artistic gem in Shanxi, attract countless tourists with their magnificent Buddha statues and exquisite carving techniques, inviting them to explore the footsteps of history. If you're planning a trip to this historic land, this Yungang Grottoes travel guide will provide you with comprehensive guidance❗ 🌲Preliminary Preparations 1. Documents🎟: Bring your ID card or other valid ID for ticket purchase and hotel check-in. 2. Clothing👗: Choose appropriate clothing according to the season. Shanxi's weather is changeable, so it's recommended to bring a jacket in case of changes. 3. Photography Equipment🎥: The beauty of the Yungang Grottoes is worth recording. Bring your camera or phone to capture those wonderful moments. 4. Comfortable Shoes👟: Comfortable shoes are essential for walking tours. Tour Route🌲 1. Tan Yao Square: Upon entering the scenic area, you'll first arrive at Tan Yao Square, where a statue of the eminent monk Tan Yao, the founder of the Yungang Grottoes, stands. 2. Buddha's Light Avenue: Walk along Buddha's Light Avenue. The stone pillars and Buddha statues on both sides of the avenue are solemn and majestic, creating a strong Buddhist atmosphere. 3. Lingyan Temple: Located on an island in the lake, Lingyan Temple features a simple and elegant architectural style. The Buddha statues and murals inside the temple are exquisite. 4. Grottoes: This is the core area of the Yungang Grottoes. Carved into the mountainside, the grottoes are magnificent. Start your tour from Cave 1 and admire the Buddhist carving art from different periods. Caves 5 and 6 boast the most spectacular Buddha statues, with delicate carvings and vibrant colors. The cross-legged Maitreya Buddha statue in Cave 13 stands 13 meters tall and is truly awe-inspiring. The open-air Great Buddha in Cave 20, with its benevolent face and dignified Dharma appearance, is the iconic Buddha statue of the Yungang Grottoes. 5. Yungang Grottoes Museum: After visiting the grottoes, you can go to the Yungang Grottoes Museum to learn about the historical background, carving techniques, and preservation efforts of the grottoes. The museum has a rich collection of exhibits, including Buddha statues, murals, and stone inscriptions, providing a deeper understanding of the Yungang Grottoes. ⚠️⚠️Tips and Suggestions 🎈🎈: Before you go, it is recommended to watch the documentaries *Yungang* and *A Thousand Years in a Cave: Yungang*. 🎈🎈: It is recommended to visit the open-air Caves 16–20 first, as they are popular photo spots. 🎈🎈: It is recommended to scan the code and listen to the audio guide (10 yuan). After all, these are historical relics, and understanding their history and culture enhances the experience. 🎈🎈: Photography is allowed inside the grottoes, but flash photography is prohibited. Please protect the cultural relics.

❤ Recommended reason: Yungang Grottoes - not only the first royal-authorized grottoes in China, but also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with significant historical and cultural importance, reflecting the political ambitions of the Northern Wei Dynasty. 🌟 Highlights: Datong Yungang Grottoes, along with Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, Luoyang Longmen Grottoes, and Tianshui Maijishan Grottoes, are known as the "Four Great Grottoes," treasures of Buddhist culture! Compared to other grottoes in China, Yungang Grottoes have the most Western style, with strong exotic influences. They feature Indian and Central Asian art elements, as well as Greek and Roman architectural styles, decorative patterns, and facial features. 👍 Most recommended: In my opinion, the murals of Mogao Grottoes are truly the "Pearl of Oriental Art," and Longmen Grottoes represent the pinnacle of stone carving art (I haven't been to Maijishan Grottoes, so I won't comment). Visiting Yungang Grottoes this time, I was truly amazed by its grand scale, majestic atmosphere, and exquisite carving skills. It was worth the trip! 🏨 Hotel environment: I recommend Datong Yungang Jianguo Hotel, with a great location, close to the ancient city, about a 30-minute drive to the Yungang Grottoes, a grand and convenient hotel! 🍽 Dining recommendation: 🌈 Fenglin Pavilion (the driver said it's the best restaurant in Datong) 🌈 Zini 369 Coarse Grain Season (Drum Tower Branch) (good taste, generous portions, enthusiastic service)

I can't allow anyone to go through life without visiting the Yungang Grottoes! ❗️ The exquisite craftsmanship of the Northern Wei Dynasty from 1,000 years ago is truly amazing. The ceiling of Chinese aesthetics is constantly being broken in my heart. It's breathtakingly beautiful! ❗️ Everyone is truly amazed and can't stop saying "wow." The only regret is that photos can't capture even 1/1000 of what you see with your own eyes. —— 【🗺️Yungang Grottoes Travel Guide】 🎫Tickets: Peak season RMB 120, off-peak season RMB 100 📅Opening hours: 9:00–16:30 (hours may vary on holidays) 🕤Tour duration: Approx. 4 hours 🚌Transportation: 1️⃣There are direct buses from Datong Ancient City. 2️⃣It's also very convenient to take a taxi from the city center. 3️⃣Take Bus 603 directly from the train station. —— 【🏃Tour Route】 Tanyao Square ➡️Lifo Avenue ➡️Lingyan Temple ➡️Shantangshui Hall ➡️Mahavira Hall ➡️Grottoes ➡️Yungang Museum ➡️Yungang Art Museum ➡️Yungang Cultural and Creative Store The most worthwhile caves to visit are Cave 5 and Cave 6. However, they are not open at the same time. Currently, Cave 6 is open. Cave 5 is famous for its height, while Cave 6 is known for its exquisite beauty. —— 【📸Photo Spots/Low-Crowd Tips】 Even though I visited the Yungang Grottoes during the off-peak season, there were still quite a few people. You can take photos as soon as the gates open and then take your time to explore. You can also take photos between 4:30 and 5:00. At this time, entry is closed, but the site has not yet been cleared. You can explore first and then leave time to take photos at the end. 📷Photo Spots 1️⃣Use a wide-angle lens to capture the Buddha in Cave 3. 2️⃣The second-floor platform next to Cave 20. 3️⃣Cave 20 Stand on the second-floor platform and use a telephoto lens to take a photo from the slope. 4️⃣Lower the camera and use a wide-angle lens to take a photo of Cave 6. 5️⃣Cave 19 Lower the camera and use a telephoto lens to take a photo from below to create the effect of high-fiving the Buddha. —— 【⚠️Other Tips】 1️⃣Entry closes at 4:30, the site is cleared at 5:30, and the caves are closed at 5:00. 2️⃣The temperature in Datong is very low in winter, so dress warmly. 3️⃣The shuttle bus is not necessary for those with good physical fitness. 4️⃣The guided tours are quite good, and you can choose different levels. 5️⃣If you don't want a guided tour, you can watch documentaries in advance. I recommend "Yungang" and "A Thousand Years, One Cave, Yungang."

Yungang Grottoes is a precious heritage site that marks the beginning of the "Sinicization" of Chinese grotto art. It is known as the "smile that transcends millennia". The tour takes about 3–4 hours, giving you enough time to appreciate each grotto and learn about their history and cultural background. 📍Attraction address: Yungang Grottoes is located on the southern slope of Wuzhou Mountain, about 16 km west of Datong City, and on the north bank of Wuzhou River. It has 45 main caves and 252 small caves and niches, and is one of the four major grottoes in China. 🚗Transportation: Bus: You can first go to Datong City, and then take a bus or tourist bus to Yungang Grottoes. Didi: Set your destination to the Yungang Grottoes ticket office or visitor center. This is a convenient and fast option. Self-driving: Navigate directly to Yungang Grottoes. You can enjoy the beautiful scenery along the way. 👍️Must-see attractions: Yungang Grottoes is famous for its large-scale grottoes and exquisite carving skills. The Buddha statues here are lifelike and dressed in gorgeous clothes, each telling a story of a thousand years. The surrounding environment is also beautiful, with mountains and rivers, fresh air, and a picturesque landscape. Be sure to visit Grottoes 3, 5, 6, 7, 12, and 20. Each grotto has its own unique historical and artistic value. 🎟️Tickets: Peak season: Full-price ticket CNY 120, half-price ticket CNY 60 (excluding sightseeing bus, CNY 20). Off-peak season: Full-price ticket CNY 100, half-price ticket CNY 50. 💗Other tips: 1. Before you set off, it is recommended to do some research in advance to learn about the history and cultural background of Yungang Grottoes. This will make your visit more fulfilling and meaningful. 2. Remember to bring a camera, as there are many great photo opportunities here. Whether it is the grandeur of the grottoes or the delicate and vivid Buddha statues, you will find many wonderful moments to capture. 3. Pay attention to sun protection and warmth, as the scenic area is large and you may stay outdoors for a long time. Also, please be a civilized tourist and do not touch or damage the precious cultural heritage such as Buddha statues and murals.