Xiangtangshan Caves

The Xiangtangshan complex contains 36 caves divided into three groups across Mount Gu, Mount Fu, and Shuiyusi, featuring religious sculptures and architectural elements carved into limestone cliffs.

The Northern Qi dynasty commissioned these caves in the sixth century, with construction of the southern group beginning in 565 under monk Hui Yi and official Gao Anahong.

Buddhist deities, architectural details, and religious texts carved throughout the caves reflect the cultural ideals of China's multicultural society during the Northern Qi period.

The caves are located in the Fengfeng Mining District, approximately 20 kilometers southwest of Handan City in Hebei province, within the Taihang Mountains region.

Digital reconstruction projects initiated in 2004 track scattered sculpture fragments worldwide and employ 3D scanning techniques to document and preserve the cave system's artifacts.

Location: Handan

GPS coordinates: 36.53333,114.15500

Latest update: March 3, 2025 03:10