The Yungang Grottoes were first hewn in 453, the second year of the Xingan reign of the Northern Wei Dynasty, more than 1,500 years ago. Most of the principal caves had been completed by the year 495. With its 53 existing rock caves and over 51000 statues, Yungang Grottoes is a treasure house of ancient Buddhist art, the largest of its kind in China. It is as famous as the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang and Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu Province.

The numerous niches set in the northern cliff of Mt Wuzhou look like a honeycomb. The grottoes, a world of Buddhist statues, is composed of the following three parts: the early rock caves (altogether five) in the west, mostly oval-shaped and planned on a large scale, the main statue reaching the height of 17 meters; the grottoes in the middle, oblong in shape and of two chambers, with the main statue in the center and the walls, arches and roofs covered with Buddhist relief sculptures; the square grottoes, each with a pagoda-shaped central column, also excellently sculptured, attainting to the roof while the walls are carved with niches enshrining Buddhist statues.

The principal statue of the Buddhist in Cave No.20 is 13.7 meters high and well preserved above the chest. Executed in a well filled-out figure, the statue with vivid eyes and broad shoulders is a representative of the sculptural art of the Yungang Grottoes.

Yungang Grottoes as a treasure house of rare and splendid Chinese sculptures enjoys worldwide fame.

Entry fee: 15 yuan