[2025 Gongyi Attraction] Travel Guide for Gongyi Grottoes Temple (Updated Jan)

Gongyi Grotto Temple is about 1 hour drive from Luoyang. It is a royal grotto statue of the Northern Wei Dynasty, which is relatively well preserved and can be observed up close. It is very good! The picture of the emperor and queen worshiping the Buddha can be seen here very completely. The place is not big, 1-2 hours is enough. Yanyue Ancient City is an ancient city that is very deserted at this time, with no people. Therefore, some of the amusement facilities are dilapidated. During major festivals such as the Spring Festival and the National Day, it will be lively, and there will be many performances inside. It is a good place to stroll around. There are tickets and parking fees for the Grotto Temple, and the ancient city is free of charge.

| The awe and beauty of thousand-year-old stone carvings. 📍Address: Siwan Village, Heluo Town, Gongyi City, Henan Province Gongyi Grotto Temple is a low-key ancient temple that carries a heavy history and artistic treasures. Stepping into the temple, time seems to flow backward. The exquisite stone-carved Buddha statues, either solemn or smiling, each tell the glory of the Northern Wei Dynasty. The reliefs in the grottoes are delicate and detailed. Whether it is the flying apsaras or the lively musicians, they seem to break through the walls and play ancient music in your ears. Walking around, the mottled light and shadow fall on the ancient stone walls, quiet and sacred. There are not many tourists here, allowing you to calm down and savor the charm of each carving, feeling the craftsmanship of ancient artisans. In the noisy world, Gongyi Grotto Temple is like a pure land, waiting for you to explore its mystery and beauty, and encounter a spiritual dialogue across a thousand years.💕

Gongyi Grottoes gives people the same feeling as Gongyi, a county-level city, quiet. It's so quiet that you don't think about the direction of your journey, you just want to stay quietly in this comfort. Gongyi Grotto Temple is located at the foot of Dali Mountain in Siwan Village, Nanhedu Township, 13 kilometers northeast of Gongyi. The earliest extant "Stele of Xixuan Temple of Emperor Xiaowen of the Later Wei Dynasty" extant in the Grotto Temple was carved during the Longshuo period of the Tang Dynasty (AD 661-663), less than two hundred years before Emperor Xiaowen of the Wei Dynasty (AD 471-499). The inscription records: "...In the past, Emperor Xiaowen of the Wei Dynasty made his fortune in Jinshan. He was far away from the jade barrier. He looked at the moon while bending the arc. He controlled the horse to chase the wind. He turned the lightning to Yizhen. The clouds flew to Gongluo. He stopped at the land and founded Jialan... ” It can be seen that the temple was established here during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. After moving the capital to Luoyang, Emperor Xiaowen built large-scale grottoes on both sides of the Yishui River in Longmen. Gongyi Grottoes is another cave run by the royal family of the Northern Wei Dynasty after Luoyang Longmen. According to the "Rebuilding the Grotto Temple Stele" written by Hongzhi of the Ming Dynasty: "Since the reign of Emperor Xuan of the Later Wei Dynasty between Jingming and Ming Dynasty (500 to 503 AD), caves have been carved out of stone and tens of thousands of Buddha statues have been carved. The number of Buddhas in the world cannot be compared..." After the Eastern Wei and Western Wei The Tang and Song Dynasties successively carved caves and statues here, forming the majestic and spectacular scale today. There are five caves in Gongyi Grottoes, and there are statue niches on the four walls of the cave. Cave 1, 2, 3 and 4 all have a central pillar, with a niche carved on each side of the central pillar. The size of the statue is larger than the niches on the wall, and it was carved by the main deity. Each niche has a statue of Sakyamuni Buddha, two attendant disciples and two Bodhisattvas, or one Buddha and two disciples, one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas. The Buddha statues in the grottoes are extremely exquisite, rich and diverse, and full of vitality. The "Picture of Emperors and Empresses Paying Respect to Buddha" in the first cave is an unparalleled national treasure; the flying apsara on the center pillar of the third cave is smart and elegant, and is a supreme treasure of Chinese apsara art. At the foot of Dali Mountain, facing the Yellow River in the north, look up at the grotto and worship.

Gongyi Grotto Temple is located in Siwan Village, Heluo Town, Gongyi City. It was built in the second year of the Xiping period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (517). It was originally named Xixuan Temple, and was renamed "Shifang Pure Land Temple" in the Song Dynasty, and renamed Grotto Temple in the Qing Dynasty. It is a national key cultural relic protection unit. There are 5 caves, 1 Thousand Buddha Niche, 3 cliff statues, 7,743 Buddha statues, and 186 statue inscriptions and other stone inscriptions in Gongyi Grotto Temple. Gongyi Grotto Temple was built after the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang. It combines the foreign influence of Buddhist art with the art of the Han nationality in the Central Plains, breaking away from the characteristics of deep eyes, high nose, and thin bones in the early Northern Wei Dynasty, and replacing them with square faces, serene expressions, and mostly static statue styles. It forms an artistic style that transitions from the Northern Dynasties to the Tang Dynasty, and occupies an important position in the history of carving art. The "Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha" in the first cave is the most complete single piece preserved in China. I have been to many national key cultural relic protection units and seen many grotto temples, but this is the first one where I can appreciate the statues at such a close distance without any protective measures, let alone a national second-class one. However, everything has two sides. If you can get close, there will be tourists touching it. The "Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha" has been touched so much that it is shiny, and there is no limit on the number of visitors during holidays. There is no one-way line in the cave, and the narrow space is crowded, which greatly affects the experience. The ticket is CNY 30, parking is convenient, and the parking fee is CNY 10.

​The Gongyi Grottoes in Zhengzhou were built during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. They were used by the Northern Wei emperor and empress to hold Buddhist ceremonies and are considered royal grottoes. After more than 1,500 years, only five caves, one Thousand Buddha Niche, and three cliffside Buddha statues remain. 🌺 When you visit, you can't help but lament the serious damage that has occurred over the years, but when you look closely at the photos, the exquisite craftsmanship is still breathtaking. The statues in the grottoes are not known for their complexity or splendor, but for their overall elegance and beauty. When you look closely, you can feel a sense of life in them. 🌺

I've been to Zhengzhou many times, and finally found a hidden gem of a grotto. Feitian, Buddhist worship, and beautiful statues just as good as the Longmen Grottoes. It's only an hour's drive from Zhengzhou, a low-cost, high-reward travel experience! 📍Attraction address: Located on Dali Mountain, south of the Yellow River, north of the Yiluo River, and below Mangling, specifically in Siwan Village, Heluo Town, northeast of Gongyi City, Henan Province. 🚗Attraction transportation: It's only an hour's drive from downtown Zhengzhou, very easy to find. 👍️Attraction highlights: 1. The place where Tang Xuanzang became a monk. 2. A holy place where many emperors, including Tang Taizong Li Shimin, worshiped Buddha. 3. It has a history of more than 1,400 years, with 5 existing caves, very concentrated, and a great visiting experience. No. 1 is the most beautiful. 4. The famous "Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha" is in No. 1 niche. It is one of the existing stone carvings in China (the other one in the Longmen Grottoes no longer exists), with high research and appreciation value. (Picture 4) 5. The third cave has a pair of "Feitian," both supported by arc-shaped honeysuckle patterns below. The Feitian are slender and graceful, with a light body, a thin face, and long fingers, showing the elegance of the Southern Dynasty scholars. (Picture 2) 💗Other tips: The visit takes about an hour. The grottoes are not big and are very concentrated, but you need to take your time.

🐉The Longmen Grottoes Binyang Cave Emperor and Empress Buddha Statue was stolen during the Republic of China's chaotic times and is now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, USA. The only remaining Emperor and Empress Buddha Statue in China is in the Gongyi Grottoes. I came here today specifically to see it and was truly shocked. The figures are lifelike, and they even carry fashionable bags. 🐉The Gongyi Grottoes were carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty. The Emperor and Empress Buddha Statue tells the story of the Northern Wei monarch and queen worshipping Buddha. The scene is grand and lively, with people in the queue serving the emperor and queen, holding tributes, and going on a pilgrimage. The figures' expressions are mostly smiling, and they are wearing wide clothes and belts, which are typical of the Northern Wei Dynasty. 🐉The grottoes mostly use a central pillar structure, and the upper part of the central pillar is often carved with flying figures. The flying figures, wearing fluttering ribbons and freely soaring in the sky, originated in ancient India and were influenced by ancient Greek angel culture, showing a relaxed posture. The decoration on the top of the cave is exquisite, with patterns such as lotus flowers, and the colors are still visible today. 🇨🇳Appreciate the 5,000-year-old Chinese civilization and inherit Chinese culture.

Gongyi Grotto Temple (Gong County Grotto) is located 5 kilometers north of Gongyi City, Henan Province, under the Dalishan Mountain in Heluo Town, with beautiful scenery. The Gongyi Grotto Temple was founded during the Northern Wei Emperor Xiaowen, and is one of the large-scale grottoes excavated by the Northern Wei royal family. The Eastern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Qi, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties successively carved niches and statues here. It was originally named Xixuan Temple, and was renamed Jingtusi in the Tang Dynasty. It was called Dalishan Shifang Jingtusi in the Song Dynasty, and it has been called Grotto Temple since the Qing Dynasty. The Grotto Temple is a place where the Northern Wei Emperor and the Queen held Buddhist activities. Later, Tang Taizong Li Shimin and the Northern Song Dynasty royal family held Buddhist activities here, leaving a large number of precious statues and inscriptions. After more than 1,500 years of wind and rain, there are 5 existing caves, 1,000 Buddha niches, 3 cliff Buddhas, 7,743 Buddhas, 186 statues inscriptions and other inscriptions. Gongyi Grotto Temple also has three national treasure-level cultural relics, namely: "Emperor and Queen Buddha, the most beautiful Feitian, Lotus Caojing." The Emperor and Queen Buddha (Figure 4) reflects the prevalence of Buddhism in the Northern Wei Dynasty. The emperor and queen personally came to the temple to worship the Buddha, and used the high relief carving technique. The earliest appearance of "Emperor and Queen Buddha" is in the Binyang Middle Cave of Longmen Grottoes. However, unfortunately, after being stolen in 1935, the Gong County Grotto Buddha became the only solitary product in the country! At the beginning, there were 18 Buddha pictures, but now only 15 are well preserved, each of which is a fine art! The most beautiful Feitian (Figure 8). Feitian originated from the ancient Indian Buddhist classics. They are free and happy gods, they are the attendants of the Buddha, and they serve the Buddha through dancing, playing music, and burning incense. This pair of Feitian, slender body, thin gauze through the body, the ribbon floats from the back of the neck to the shoulders, and then flips to the armpit and floats back! They hold a lotus in one hand and a lotus bud in the other. The fifth cave has a characteristic lotus cao well (Figure 6) on the top of the grotto. In the middle is a blooming big lotus, surrounded by six flying days around the lotus. There are also birth patterns in the four corners, which are exquisitely shaped. It is said. The sunflower top of the Beijing People's Congress Hall was designed and built according to it. As a treasure of Chinese grotto art, Gongyi Grotto Temple has preserved many precious cultural heritages after thousands of years of wind and rain. It is not only a representative of Buddhist art in the Northern Wei Dynasty, but also the graceful dance of Feitian Tian, the solemn scene of the emperor and queen Buddha, leading the general public through history and feeling the spirit and belief of ancient China. Gongyi Grotto Temple

Gongyi Grotto Temple is a grotto excavated by the Northern Wei royal family. After more than 1,500 years of weathering, there are currently 5 caves, 1 Thousand Buddha Niche, 3 cliffside Buddhas, 7,743 Buddha statues, 186 inscriptions and other steles. It is a national AAA-level tourist attraction with high historical and artistic value. Here is a travel guide for Gongyi Grotto Temple: - Address: Siwan Village, Heluo Town, Gongyi City, Henan Province - Ticket: 30 yuan/person (January 1 - December 31, Monday - Sunday). - Opening hours: 08:30-18:00 all year round (ticket sales stop at 17:30, entry stops at 17:30). - Public transportation: 1. From Gongyi City - Bus: There is a tourist line in Gongyi City (Yongzhaoling South Gate Station - Gongyi Grotto Temple Station), which can be taken at the bus stop near Yongzhaoling South Gate. The fare is 2 yuan. - Taxi: If the number of people is suitable, taking a taxi directly is relatively convenient and fast. 2. From other places, arriving at Gongyi Station by train, etc. - First take the city bus to Yongzhaoling South Gate Station and other stations connecting with the tourist line, then transfer to the tourist line to the Grotto Temple. - Self-driving: Navigate to Gongyi Grotto Temple. - Time reference: 1-3 hours. - Attraction introduction: - Grotto: The Grotto Temple currently has five caves, one Thousand Buddha Niche, 255 small Buddha niches, three cliffside statues, a total of 7,743 Buddha statues, and more than 200 inscriptions. The carvings inside the caves are exquisite and lifelike, rare in the world. The beautiful relief of the Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha on the stone wall is a national treasure and an artistic masterpiece, astonishing to behold. - Flying Apsaras: The flying apsaras stone carving wears a flower crown, holds a lotus in one hand and an offering in the other, wears a thin gauze, with ribbons floating from the back, shoulders fluttering backward, and the long skirt at the calves creating a strong sense of flight against the cloud patterns. The posture is graceful, dancing elegantly, as if returning to the thousand-year-old Dunhuang Heluo divine scene. - Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha: The composition is perfect and well-preserved, fully displaying the grand scene of the Northern Wei royal family worshiping Buddha. - Yanyue Ancient City: Located near the Grotto Temple, it is an ancient town integrating leisure, entertainment, shopping, and dining. - Guide service: Guide explanation 40 yuan/time, can be chosen according to personal needs. - Notes: - Respect history and culture, keep quiet, and do not touch cultural relics casually. - Pay attention to environmental protection, do not litter. - Follow the regulations of the scenic area, no smoking, no loud noises.

Gongyi Grotto Temple is located in Siwan Village, Heluo Town, Gongyi City, Zhengzhou, Henan Province, nestled on the south bank of the Yellow River, the north bank of the Yiluo River, and at the foot of Mount Dali, 10 kilometers from the city center. Bus route 66 can take you directly to the parking lot at the temple's entrance. The grotto temple was built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, originally named Xixuan Temple, renamed to 'Shifang Jingtusi' during the Song Dynasty, and renamed again to Grotto Temple during the Qing Dynasty. It was a place where Northern Wei emperors and empresses held Buddhist ceremonies. Later, Emperor Taizong of Tang and the royal family of the Northern Song Dynasty also held Buddhist events here, leaving behind a large number of precious statues and inscriptions. Most of the ancient buildings in the grotto temple no longer exist, and the only ancient buildings in the temple today are the main hall and east and west wing rooms from the Ming Dynasty. After entering through the mountain gate, there are bell and drum towers on both sides, with the bell ringing in the morning and the drum at dusk, which is deafening. A small path leads straight to the Mahavira Hall, with two arched doors on both sides, each with a plaque above. The plaque on the west side reads 'Mijin Fudu' (Lost Ferry, Again Crossed), and the one on the east reads 'Juelu Chongkai' (Path of Enlightenment, Reopened). Turning right after exiting the west arched door and walking fifty meters, you will reach the Gongyi Grottoes. The Gongyi Grottoes are the most valuable part of the temple to visit, with over seven thousand Buddha niches and statues distributed within the 120-meter-long grotto complex. Especially, the 'Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha' mural in the first cave is the most complete and unique piece preserved in the country, truly a priceless treasure. I will write another article specifically about the Gongyi Grottoes. Normal visitors would leave after viewing the statues in the grotto temple, but if you climb the stairs on the west side of the first cave, there are two more ancient sites. One is the Forest of Steles, which displays inscriptions from the Tang, Song, Jin, Ming, and Qing dynasties, recording the changes and repairs of the grotto temple over the ages, some of which are no longer clear. The second is the Han Garden, which is the half-cave at the northwest corner of the entire scenic area. It's hard to distinguish with the naked eye. I didn't bring glasses or a flashlight, and after looking for a long time, I really didn't see anything. When I left, I asked the staff, who said that on the wall directly opposite inside, there is an inscription from the Eastern Han period, hence the name Han Garden. Perhaps it was not meant to be for me to see it, so I'm giving everyone a heads-up to see if there are any destined visitors who can successfully spot it. There is a solid Tang Dynasty pagoda on Mount Dali, which is a geomantic pagoda that cannot be climbed, but can be viewed from both inside and outside the temple. Gongyi Grotto Temple is backed by mountains and faces water, with an elegant environment and beautiful scenery, known as the sacred place of 'Creek Mist and Rock Clouds,' and the 'Evening Bell of the Grotto Temple' is one of the eight scenic spots of Gong County. The area of the grotto temple is not large, and a normal visit takes about two hours, but for avid grotto enthusiasts, it is possible to spend several days here. After all, although the Gongyi Grotto Temple is small in size, the quality of its statues is very high, and there are many epoch-making sculptures, which we will talk about later. The ticket is only thirty yuan, and I highly recommend going in for a visit, and suggest pairing it with a visit to the Kang Baiwan Manor.

Henan Province is not only famous for the Longmen Grottoes but also has many lesser-known grottoes and stone carvings, among which the Gongxian Grottoes are particularly fine. 📍The grotto temple is located in Gongyi, under the jurisdiction of Zhengzhou city, and has a history of about 1500 years. It is the second batch of key cultural relics protection units in the country, with extremely high artistic value and historical significance. The grottoes were carved during the Northern Wei period (517 AD), with 5 existing caves that are not large in scale but are very exquisite, no less inferior to the Longmen Grottoes. 🌟The highlights of the grotto temple are the 'Emperor and Empress Paying Homage to Buddha' mural and the Feitian stone carving statues. Currently, there is only one 'Emperor and Empress Paying Homage to Buddha' mural in China, which can be viewed up close here, but be sure to protect the cultural relics, do not touch with hands, and do not use flash photography. 🚂Transportation: The train from Zhengzhou to Luoyang to Gongyi takes less than an hour, which is very convenient. After arriving at the train station, you can take a bus to get there 🎫Ticket price is 30, with a concessionary ticket at 15, and children and the elderly who meet the conditions can enter for free ⌚️Visiting time: About one hour Gongyi also has the Gongyi Museum and the Northern Song Imperial Tombs, Kang Baiwan Manor, and other attractions that are also worth a visit, and it would take about two days to complete them all. It is a pity that a county-level city has so many cultural relics and historical sites, but few tourists and insufficient protection of cultural relics. Friends traveling to Henan might as well include Gongyi in their travel list, as it is less crowded and all are essence. The No. 1 grotto of the grotto temple (Emperor and Empress Paying Homage to Buddha) also has a replica in the Henan Museum, and those who are interested but do not have time can also visit the museum.

❤Recommended reason: In the late Northern Wei Dynasty, the royal family excavated the Longmen Grottoes, which greatly stimulated the Buddhist statue movement around Luoyang. Among these statues, the Gongxian Grottoes are the most dazzling. 🌟Highlight features: The Gongxian Grottoes are listed as one of the nine major grottoes in the country, and their flying sky and emperor and queen worshiping Buddha are national treasures. The Grotto Temple was built in the second year of Xiping in the Northern Wei Dynasty (517 AD), originally named Xixuan Temple, named Jingtusi in the Tang Dynasty, named Shifang Jingtusi in the Song and Ming Dynasties, and renamed Grotto Temple in the Qing Dynasty. 👍Most recommended: The grottoes are divided into east and west zones. The 1st and 2nd grottoes are in the west zone, and the 3rd, 4th, and 5th grottoes are in the east zone. Except for the 5th grotto, the other four grottoes are square, with a central pillar, niches carved on all four sides of the pillar (mostly one Buddha, two disciples, two Bodhisattvas), and the grotto ceiling is carved with flat chess, with the 5th grotto's caisson carving being the most exquisite. The Buddha's face is round and square, the clothing lines are clear, and the expression is peaceful, which is different from the deep-eyed, high-nosed, and bone-clear images of the early Northern Wei Dynasty such as the Yungang Grottoes. Although the Gongxian Grottoes are not as majestic and magnificent as the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes, they have commendable aspects in terms of grotto form, theme, and composition.

【Seeing Central Plains·Gongyi·Exquisite Flying Apsaras and Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha】It was not originally included in this trip, but was added a few days before departure. Fortunately, it was added. This small city located between Luoyang and Zhengzhou hides two national treasures, which brought us a huge surprise! The Gongyi Grottoes were carved during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Although the scale is far less than the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, it is extremely exquisite. Thousands of years have passed, and many parts of the grottoes have been damaged, but they still retain the unique 'Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha' and the so-called most beautiful flying Apsaras and other exquisite carvings in China. The grottoes are very small, with only 5 left, and a few scattered tourists. I believe that the Longmen Grottoes in the summer vacation may have been crowded. Lingering and forgetting to return, I have looked at it many times, Gongyi Grottoes, YYDS! Tips1: Must-see points: ✅ First Grotto: Emperor's Buddha Worship Picture on the East Side + Empress's Buddha Worship Picture on the West Side ✅ Second Grotto: Cliff Buddha and disciples outside the grotto ✅ Flying Apsaras: around the Buddha niche and the top of the grotto (each grotto has) ✅ Thousand Buddha Niches: 999 small Buddhas + 1 big Buddha ✅ Third Grotto: The most beautiful flying Apsaras, musicians and strong men (all below) ✅ Fifth Grotto: A very large lotus flower well on the top of the grotto Tips2: The bas-relief of 'Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha' is located on both sides of the east and west doors of the first, third, and fourth grottoes of the Grotto Temple, with 3 pieces on each side, a total of 18 pieces, which are the only ones in the existing grottoes in the country. Among them, the first grotto is the most exquisite. The left side depicts the scene of the emperor worshiping Buddha. In the picture, Emperor Xiaowen wears a 'crown', wears a 'dragon robe', and has monks in cassocks as guides. Under the guidance of princes, ministers, and close attendants with umbrellas, feather covers (emperor's ceremonial guards with bird feathers as decorations), long swords, and incense boxes, they slowly advance. The picture shows the dignified nobles and the short attendants forming a clear contrast of respect and inferiority. The right side is the picture of the empress worshiping Buddha. Empress Wenzhao wears a lotus crown, draped in a cloud robe, holding incense in one hand, followed by two noble ladies, walking slowly in the wind under the escort of many palace ladies.