Longmen Grottoes (洛陽龍門石窟)

 

Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang

The Longmen Grottoes, located near Luoyang in northwest Henan, are a treasured preserve of ancient Buddhist cave art and one of the three notable grottoes in China, in addition to the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi and Mogao Caves in Gansu. The grottoes were first hewed and carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), and the practice continued through the successive six dynasties, including the Tang and Song Dynasties, for a span of over 400 years. The park includes 1,352 caves, 785 niches, and more than 97,000 statues of the Buddha, Bodhisattva and Arhats. In November 2000, the Longmen Grottoes were added to the list of World Cultural Heritage sites.

Admission: 120 yuan (US$18.84)