Longmen Grottoes - Great Attractions (China)

  • 13 years ago
Take a tour of Longmen Grottoes in China – part of the World’s Greatest Attractions series by GeoBeats.

Nestled in the mountains in Henan province, and parted by the river Yi, are the famous Longmen Grottoes.

They are considered by many to be one of the most acclaimed and prominent ancient sculptural sites of the country.

Thousands of statues, pagodas, niches and tablets can be found in the more than 2,100 grottoes situated here.

Built over a period of more than 400 years, The Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties, were the primary beneficiaries of this illustrious site.

The beautifully carved Buddha, Bodhisattvas and Arhats' statues found here lend an enchanting aura to this isolated haven.

This site is exemplar of ancient Buddhist cave art, and also of the unique carving and aesthetic styles characteristic of various dynasties.