Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi

### Explore Ancient Relics: A Travel Guide to Yungang Grottoes, Datong Yungang Grottoes is located at the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain in the western suburbs of Datong, Shanxi Province, China. It is one of the four major grottoes in China, famous for its exquisite stone carving art and long history and culture. Upon entering the scenic area, the first thing that catches your eye is the magnificent square in front of Caves 5 and 6, with green trees on both sides, adding a touch of vitality to the ancient grottoes. As you walk deeper, the exquisitely carved Buddha statues gradually appear before your eyes. There are 45 main caves and more than 51,000 statues of various sizes in Yungang Grottoes, with the largest Buddha statue reaching 17 meters in height and the smallest only a few centimeters. The scale and artistic value are truly breathtaking! - **Best Travel Time**: Autumn (September to November), when the weather is pleasant and suitable for long outdoor activities. - **Scenic Area Opening Hours**: 9:00–17:00 (Ticket sales stop at 16:30) - **Museum Opening Hours**: 9:30–16:30 - **Peak Season (April 1 to October 31)**: - Adult Full Ticket Price: CNY 120/person - Student Half Ticket Price: CNY 60/person - **Off-Season (November 1 to March 31 of the following year)**: - Adult Full Ticket Price: CNY 100/person - Student Half Ticket Price: CNY 50/person 1. **One-Day Tour Recommended Route**: - Tanyao Square → Buddha Avenue → Yungang Art Museum → Yungang Institute History Museum → Buddha Relief Wall → Lingyan Temple (Mountain Hall and Water Palace) → Grottoes → Yungang Museum → Performance Center → Northern Wei Shadow Puppetry and Puppet Museum → Premier Zhou Memorial Room → Stone Soldier Art Museum → Food Street 2. **Half-Day Tour Recommended Route**: - Tanyao Square → Buddha Avenue → Buddha Relief Wall → Lingyan Temple (Mountain Hall and Water Palace) → Grottoes → Food Street - **Interactive Experience**: In the Yungang Art Museum and Museum, you can participate in some interactive experience projects, such as making clay sculptures, rubbings, etc. - **Cultural Activities**: Cultural lectures and performances are held in the scenic area from time to time. For specific information, you can check the official website of the scenic area or the visitor service center. Yungang Grottoes is not only a historical site but also a thick history book, recording the splendor of ancient Chinese culture and art. I hope this guide can help you better plan your trip and enjoy a feast of culture and art. Walking between the caves, every step is a baptism of the soul. The craftsmen of the Northern Wei Dynasty used their wisdom and sweat to carve vivid pictures on the hard rocks. These statues not only show scenes from Buddhist stories but also incorporate many elements of Han culture, such as the Music Cave in Cave 12, which is carved with images of musicians playing various instruments, as if you can hear the melodious music from a thousand years ago.