The Yungang Grottoes with an entrance fee of 120 yuan are such a great value!
After the Northern Wei Dynasty made Datong its capital, due to the rulers' reverence for Buddhism, many temples were built, and the grottoes were extensively excavated. The main part of the Yungang Grottoes was completed before the Northern Wei moved its capital to Luoyang. The grottoes are carved into the mountain and stretch for 1 kilometer from east to west. The statues range from as tall as 17 meters to as small as 2 centimeters, with approximately 1,100 niches and over 59,000 figures of various sizes.
🌟 Highlights: Listed as a World Heritage Site, one of the first batch of key cultural relics protection units in China, one of the first batch of national 5A-level tourist attractions, and one of the four major grottoes.
🪷 Tour Route: Tan Yao Square ➡️ Buddha's Light Avenue ➡️ Worshiping Buddha Relief Wall ➡️ Lingyan Temple ➡️ Grottoes Cluster ➡️ Food Street
1️⃣ Tan Yao Square: Built to commemorate Tan Yao, the founder of the Yungang Grottoes, the square features a statue of the high monk Tan Yao at its center.
2️⃣ Buddha's Light Avenue: Buddha's Light Avenue is a three-dimensional sculpture art gallery, with blooming lotus carvings on the ground and 13 pairs of 'Elephants Carrying Pagodas' statues on both sides. The statues are inspired by the sculptures from the middle period of the Yungang Grottoes and incorporate many cultural elements from the grottoes. The base relief depicts a group of Northern Wei donors dressed in Xianbei attire.
3️⃣ Worshiping Buddha Relief Wall: Walking west through the forest of sacred pillars on Buddha's Light Avenue, you will find two fan-shaped royal Worshiping Buddha relief walls facing each other, with a Bodhi tree in the middle, adorned with prayer plaques from visitors.
4️⃣ Lingyan Temple: Moving forward, you will arrive at Lingyan Temple, located in the center of the lake island within the Yungang Grottoes scenic area. The entire temple consists of three courtyards and is built according to the description by the famous Northern Wei geographer Li Daoyuan in his 'Commentary on the Water Classic'.
5️⃣ Grottoes Cluster: Since the grottoes are built along the mountain, you can simply follow the same direction to visit them all. Some of the smaller Buddha statues in the caves have been eroded by weather over the years and are somewhat indistinct, but the larger statues are still relatively well-preserved. A must-visit spot: Cave 20, which is the only cave with an exposed Buddha statue and is also the symbol of the Yungang Grottoes.
6️⃣ Food Street: An obligatory path at the exit, offering Datong's local specialties and some craft souvenirs. Compared to many other scenic areas, I found that the prices of cultural and creative products in Datong are very reasonable. Don't miss out on the coal gangue crafts.
7️⃣ Others: If you have enough time, consider visiting the Yungang Art Gallery, Yungang History Museum, and Yungang Museum.
🚗 Transportation: There are tourist buses from Datong city to the Yungang Grottoes, or you can drive there. If you go during holidays, the last few kilometers can be very congested. If driving, there's no need to go all the way into the scenic area; we parked our car on a small road outside a nearby residential area and then walked across the bridge to the entrance of the grottoes.
🎫 Ticket: 120 yuan (full price for adults, with half-price discounts for special groups)
Honestly, for such a large scenic area with so many small attractions, this ticket price is really conscientious.
📌 Tips: If you want to avoid crowds, it's recommended not to sleep in and to start your trip early in the morning.
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How lucky, actually met the first exhibition of the bronze in the Yuanmingyuan here, and it is a real product. This is rare to see in Beijing. Each copper capital is very distinctive, like the monkey head of King Kong, like the horse head of Indian horse, line, like the tiger head of a leopard, like the cattle head of a wild antelope, and the second brother who looks a little fierce and a little funny, the original Chinese and Western combinations of any period are traceable. The narrator is very young and speaks very well. The fare is small and expensive, but expensive in the real product.
The interpreter Xiao Sun is enthusiastic and the language speed is eased. Because it is to bring the elderly out, the walking action is slow. Xiao Sun is enthusiastic and patient, and carefully explained. The gem of Yungang Grottoes is more complete and the artistic expression is more diverse. It is a treasure trove of Silk Road civilization and cultural exchanges between East and West.
The interpreter Xiao Sun is enthusiastic and the language speed is eased. Because it is to bring the elderly out, the walking action is slow. Xiao Sun is enthusiastic and patient, and carefully explained. The gem of Yungang Grottoes is more complete and the artistic expression is more diverse. It is a treasure trove of Silk Road civilization and cultural exchanges between East and West.
I saw it on May 2, although there are many people and cars traveling during the May Day holiday, and every time I see a grotto, I have to queue up, but the first time I see the grotto is still very shocking and excited. Listening to the rambling of the explainer, it seems to be back to the Northern Wei Dynasty of more than 1,600 [cost-effective] years ago.
World Cultural Heritage Site, National 5A Scenic Spot, Millennium History Precipitated, now watching so many people come to Datong to travel, thank everyone who paid for the construction of the big scenic spot that year, and feel proud and proud of having such a historical and humanistic landscape!
never expected that much experience I will get. this is very busy place on weekends and better to visit weekdays and spend at least 3-4 hours. you will be amused and it is better than many such places
Yungang Grottoes is really a super shocking art treasure! Every Buddha statue seems to be telling the story of a thousand years, so that people can not help but immerse themselves in this ancient and mysterious art temple. Special thanks to Wang Miaomiao's guide for her explanation. Her expertise really made me have a deeper understanding of Yungang Grottoes. Her explanation is vivid and interesting, making me feel the wisdom and ingenuity of ancient craftsmen. Like her hard work and professionalism! I hope more people can come to Yungang Grottoes to feel this unique beauty and charm. Wang Miaomiao's guide's explanation is really super! First of all, she has a deep understanding of the historical and cultural background of Yungang Grottoes, and every explanation can bring us rich knowledge and unique insights. She can express complex historical events and characters in simple and understandable language, so that we tourists can easily understand and immerse ourselves in the story. Second, the way of explanation is very vivid and interesting. She is adept at using metaphors and humorous language in various images, making boring historical knowledge lively and interesting for us to learn in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere. Her explanations always resonate and interest us, so that we love and respect this ancient cultural heritage more. Finally, she also pays great attention to interaction with tourists. She patiently answers our questions, cares about our feelings, and often guides us to explore and discover the beauty of Yungang Grottoes. Her enthusiasm and professionalism made us feel extremely warm and moved, so that we have a deeper understanding and understanding of Yungang Grottoes.
The scenic spot is very good, but there is no obvious scenic spot entry prompt on the roadside. The scenic spot is also inside. I hope to add scenic spot signs and you can take a lot of wrong roads less.