Top 10 Buddhist Grottoes & Caves in China

Mogao Caves (莫高窟), known as Thousand Buddha Grottoes, comprises the largest, most richly endowed and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art in the World.

Situated at a strategic point along the Silk Road, Mogao Caves is located 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City. With a history over 1600 years, it was first constructed in 366 AD in Sixteen Kingdoms and represents the great repositories of Buddhist art from the 4th to the 14th century. Now, Mogao caves has 492 caves, housing about 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,100 painted sculptures. Among them, the highest painted sculpture is at 35.5 meters (in Cave 96) and the largest mural painting is 47 square meters (in Cave 61). For the precious, unmatched artistic, historical, cultural value, Mogao Caves was listed as the World Heritage Site in 1987.

You can't say you have been to Datong unless you have visited Yungang Grottoes (云冈石窟). Located 16 kilometers to the west of Datong City, Yungang Grottoes represents the outstanding achievement of Buddhist cave art in China in the 5th and 6th centuries. It was not only listed as one of the Top Four Great Grottoes in China, but inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.

Yungang Grottoes was first constructed in Northern Wei Dynasty since Wencheng Emperor (460AD), with a history over 1500 years. During this early period, it was built the cave 16 to cave 20 created by Tao Yao, with their strict unity of layout and design, constituted a classical masterpiece of the first peak of Chinese Buddhist art. It have played an important role among early Oriental Buddhist Grottoes and made a far-reaching impact on Buddhist cave art in China and East Asia. And now, there are 45 caves, 252 niches and 51,000 statues in total that travelers can fully explore this spectacular site and have better know about Buddhism.

Longmen Grottoes (龙门石窟), ocated 12 kilometers south of Luoyang City, is one of the finest examples of Chinese Buddhist art. In 2000, it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and described as “An Outstanding Manifestation of Human Artistic Creativity”. First built in Northern Wei Dynasty in the reign of Xiaowen Emperor (孝文帝), it has developed in Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties and Song Dynasty. That’s to say, the grottoes and niches of Longmen contains the largest and most impressive collection of Chinese art of the late Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties (316-907AD). Now, Longmen Grottoes has 20 caves and 2345 niches carved into the steep limestone cliffs over 1 km long stretch. Moreover, there are more than 100,000 Buddhist stone statues, 60 stupas and 2800 inscriptions carved on the steles. To enjoy the spectacular caves and Buddha statues and know the sightseeing route, please go and check our Longmen Grottoes.

If Mogao Caves is a huge paradise for murals, then Maijishan Grottoes (麦积山石窟) is the Gallery of Oriental Sculpture Art. It is not only reputed as one of the Top Four Greatest Grottoes in China, but also listed as a part of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor".

First built in Later Qin (384-417AD) and extended construction over 12 dynasties, this example of rock cut architecture contains over 194 caves, 7,200 Buddhist sculptures, over 1300 square meters murals and more than 70 percent caves were excavated in the North Dynasty. The sculpture is as large as 16 meters high, as small as 10 centimeters are excavated on the cliff about 30-80m high from the ground and they have embodied the features of sculptures over thousand years, reflected the process and development of clay sculptures. It is worth your time and effort to explore Spectacular Maiji peak, exquisite clay carving temple building under cliff, peculiar landform - the harmonious landscape of mankind and nature.

Dazu Rock Carvings (大足石刻), located in Dazu District of Chongqing, has high reputation as same as Mogao Caves, Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes and Maijishan Grottoes. Besides, it belongs a UNESCO World Heritage Site as well as one of the Top Eight Grottoes in the World.

Dazu Rock Carvings have five clusters dating from the 9th to 13th centuries, with more than 10,000 carvings depicting themes of Tantric Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism. Travelers who come to Dazu Rock Carvings will be impressed by the grand scale, aesthetic quality and rich diversity of subject matter and get to know the great change in and development of cave temple art and religious beliefs in China 1100 years ago.

Yulin Grottoes (榆林石窟), also called Ten Thousand Buddha, is said to be the twin cave of Mogao Caves which is similar in style of caves, subjects and artistic style. There is no exact construction time to first built the grottoes, but it estimates to be built before Sui-Tang Dynasties. It was listed as a part of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor".

Now, Yulin Grottoes is composed of 43 caves - 32 caves in East Cliff Area and 11 caves in West Cliff Area, with 272 painted sculptures, 5650 square meters murals. For the spectacular caves, there are 14 caves built in Tang Dynasty among them Cave 25 is the most well preserved one; 23 Caves built in Five Dynasties and Northern Song Dynasty; and 16 caves built in Western Xia and Yuan Dynasties.

Travelers come to visit Yulin Grottoes can have a deep look at Cave 5, 11, 12, 13, 17, 19, 26; and you may have chance to enter Cave 14, 15, 16, 23 and should pay extra charge for special Cave 2 (100 Yuan), Cave 3 (150 Yuan), Cave 4 (100 Yuan), Cave 25 (200 Yuan).

The name of "Bingling" means ten thousand Buddha in Tibetan language. In 2014, Binglingsi Grottoes (炳灵寺石窟) was listed as a part of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor", the World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

Binglingsi Grottoes (炳灵寺石窟) was first built in Western Qin in 430AD and continuously went on expansion on a massive scale through the dynasties of Northern and Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Yuan, Ming and Qing. At present, it has 183 niches, 694 stone sculptures, 82 clay sculptures and about 900 square meters murals.

Travelers who pay a visit to Binglingsi Grottoes can visit the stunning Western Qin Dynasty Cave 169, 192 and 195; on the north wall of Cave 169 has kept inscriptions in the year of Western Qin which stands for the earliest preface for grottoes. When visiting North Wei Dynasty Cave 126, 128, 132, you can appreciate the style of Buddhism in central plain. While, there are 135 caves built in Tang Dynasty and among them Cave 3, 4, 49-58, 64, 147 and Cave 171 are outstanding. The Cave 171 has a giant Buddha standing 30 meters high. Many exquisite Buddha statues and murals are waiting for you to discover! The surprises are hidden, why not come?

Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (柏孜克里千佛洞), has the largest number of caves, most abundant of murals among Gaochang grottoes. It is located between the cities of Turpan and Loulan at the northeast of the Taklamakan Desert near the ancient ruins of Gaochang in the Mutou Valley, a gorge in the Flaming Mountains. The Buddhist grottoes can date from the 5th to 14th century and now there are 83 caves, 1200 square meters of murals and over 40 caves with murals. Some murals show a large Buddha surrounded by other figures, including Turks, Indians and Europeans.

With a history over 1500 years, Bezeklik Caves is the precious relic for Buddhist Uyghurs of the Kingdom of Qocho. Travelers who visit Bezeklik Caves should pay attention to the Cave 18, 29 and 48 which belongs to the caves in 499-640AD in the reign of Oocho Kingdom; take a look at Cave 16, 17, 25, 27, 31, 42 and 69 which shows the new style of Tang Dynasty; While Cave 14, 20, 31, 33, 39, 41, 82 that you can find the relics of Oocho Kingdom with various subjects.

Kizil Caves (克孜尔石窟), also called Qizil Caves or Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, is the living fossil of Kucha (龟兹) Ancient Kingdom located on the ancient Silk Road. In 2014, Kizil Caves was listed as a part of "Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor", a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Kizil Cave complex is believed to be the earliest major Buddhist cave complex in China and the development is said to have occurred between the 3rd and 8th centuries A.D. under the ancient Tocharian Kingdom of Kucha. According to the carving time, it is 300 years earlier than Mogoa Caves.

Matisi Grottoes (马蹄寺石窟), located 65 kilometers south of Zhangye City, together with Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Yulin Grottos in Guazhou are regarded as Three Artistic Treasured Grottoes of Hexi Buddha Holy Land. A legend says that once a sacred horse left its footstep in a rock here, so Matisi Temple (also called Horse Hoof Temple) got its name.

Matisi Grottoes was first built in Northern Liang, with a history over 1600 years. It is a large complex over 70 caves, composed of Guosheng Temple, Puguang Temple, Thousand Buddha Cave, Golden Pagoda Temple, Upper Guanyin Grottoes, Central Guanyin Grottoes and Lower Guanyin Grottoes. Travelers who come to visit Matisi Grottoes can fully enjoy cave art, beautiful Qilian Mountain scenery and special Yugur ethnic customs. To know more Buddha statues and visiting route, please go and check our Matisi Temple.