This unassuming stone grotto, with its celestial beings that rival those of Dunhuang, tugs at the heartstrings

Compared to Beixiangtang Mountain, even fewer people visit Nanxiangtang Mountain. Just over ten kilometers away from Beixiangtang, a mere 10-plus minute drive, it is closer to the Fengfeng urban area, located on the north bank of the Fuyang River. The mountain is not as tall as Beixiangtang, making it somewhat easier to climb. · Passing through the newly renovated Nanxiangtang Temple, the main body of the Nanxiangtang Grottoes is on the east side of the temple, concentrated on a section of exposed rock. The Nanxiangtang Mountain Grottoes are divided into two levels, with a total of seven caves. The first level has two caves, namely the Huayan Cave and the Prajna Cave; the second level has five caves, which from south to north are the Empty Cave, Amitabha Cave, Sakyamuni Cave, Warrior Cave, and Thousand Buddha Cave. · Compared to Beixiangtang Mountain, the caves here are much smaller and were carved later. There is a saying that the carving of the Nanxiangtang Grottoes was done by Gao Anagong, who flattered his way into becoming the Prime Minister for the Northern Qi Emperor to build a palace for the emperor's convenience during his travels between the secondary capital Jinyang and Yecheng. Therefore, Nanxiangtang Mountain did not receive imperial funding and looks more like a 'private' grotto, lacking some grandeur but more secular and varied. · The largest of the seven grottoes in Nanxiangtang is the Huayan Cave on the first level, a central pillar-style pagoda cave. The ceiling of the cave is relatively flat, with front and rear chambers, and because the 'Avatamsaka Sutra' is carved inside, it is called the Huayan Cave. However, it is severely damaged, and it is almost impossible to find a complete statue. · The exterior of the grottoes features stone carvings of imitation wooden structures, eaves, and colonnades, with columns and bracket sets carved on the upper part of the outer walls. The cave entrance is arched, with exquisite shallow relief honeysuckle patterns on both sides. The outer walls of the cave have statues from different eras of various sizes, and although they are also severely damaged, they look somewhat better than those inside the cave. · The most impressive to me is the Thousand Buddha Cave on the second level. Before even entering the cave, one is first attracted by the stone warrior statues on both sides of the front porch. Although these warriors are traditionally large and strong, they are paired with fluttering ribbons, and their light and dynamic movement makes the statues appear particularly graceful and lifelike. · Walking into the dim cave, the walls are covered with densely packed Buddha statues, which are unfortunately almost completely destroyed. But do not be disappointed, because the highlight of the Thousand Buddha Cave is on the ceiling. Looking up, the center of the ceiling is a lotus flower caisson, still retaining some color. Around the lotus flower are eight celestial musicians, some holding a konghou, some playing a pipa, with graceful figures dancing elegantly, their splendor not at all inferior to the flying apsaras of Dunhuang. · In addition to the grottoes, Nanxiangtang Mountain also has a Song Dynasty pagoda and a museum worth visiting, especially the Song pagoda, which is also so damaged that it tugs at the heartstrings, giving off a feeling of teetering on the brink, revealing the vicissitudes of time. · The Xiangtangshan Grottoes Museum is somewhat small, with not much on display, mainly consisting of two parts: one part is the museum's stone carvings, and the other part is the statues unearthed from the Chang Le Temple at Beixiangtang Mountain. Although most of the statues are incomplete, one can still glimpse the past splendor, especially the smiles on the statues that seem to have an energy that can melt away all the displeasure in your heart. · 🏞Name | Nanxiangtang Mountain Grottoes 🎫Ticket | 15 yuan ⛳Address | No. 12 Taihang West Road, Fengfeng Mining District, Handan City 🚗Transportation | Navigate to 'Nanxiangtang Mountain Grottoes'