A Mile-Long Gallery Carved by Faith's Unwavering Hand
Imagine a gallery where the walls are a mile-long stretch of limestone cliff, and the collection contains over 100,000 masterpieces of devotional art carved over 1,500 years ago. This is the Longmen Grottoes. Your journey here is a pilgrimage along the banks of the Yi River, where every step reveals another niche, another cave, another breathtaking expression of faith chiselled from stone.
You'll see Buddhas tiny enough to fit in your palm and Boddhisatvas as tall as a house. But nothing prepares you for the moment you round a corner and stand before the main Fengxian Temple. Here, a colossal, 17-meter (56-foot) statue of the Vairocana Buddha sits in serene majesty. Carved during the Tang Dynasty, its face is said to be modeled on China’s only female emperor, Wu Zetian. Its expression is one of such profound peace and compassion that it seems to gaze down not just at you, but through you. It’s a humbling, soul-stirring moment that transcends tourism.
Insider Tip:
The light is best for photographing the main Buddha on the West Hill in the morning. After you've explored that side, cross the bridge to the less-crowded East Hill. From there, you get a stunning panoramic view of the entire cliff face you just walked, giving you a true sense of the project's monumental scale.
