Longmen Grottoes, Buddhist rock sanctuary in Luoyang, Henan Province, China.
The Longmen Grottoes feature approximately 100,000 Buddhist statues carved into limestone cliffs along the Yi River, with sculptures ranging from tiny figurines to monumental figures reaching 17 meters in height.
Construction began during the late Northern Wei Dynasty in the 5th century and continued through the Tang Dynasty, with the most prolific carving period occurring between 672 and 676 under Empress Wu Zetian.
The site contains over 2,800 inscriptions documenting religious texts, donor names, and historical events while representing the artistic evolution of Chinese Buddhism through multiple dynasties and carving styles.
The site operates daily from 8:00 AM to 5:30 PM at 13 Long Men Zhong Jie, Luo Long Qu, and visitors should prepare for walking along uneven pathways as wheelchair access is limited.
The colossal Vairocana Buddha statue in Fengxian Temple stands 17.14 meters tall and was possibly modeled after Empress Wu Zetian herself, reflecting the height of Tang Dynasty stone carving mastery.
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