Binglingsi Grottoes
» Lanzhou, Gan Su

炳灵寺石窟 昔日佛教胜地 石雕精美著称于世

Bingling Temple,Bingling Thousand Buddha Caves

"Bingling" means "thousand Buddhas" or "ten-thousand Buddhas" in the Tibetan language. Being one of the very noted caves in China, it is the second to Mogao Grottoes in respect of artistic value. It is one of the best-preserved collections of Buddhist cave art in all of China. The stone sculptures in Binglingsi Grottoes represent the social situations and customs during ancient times. After the founding of People's Republic of China, the State Council designated the site as a key cultural relic, and placed it under state protection.

The essential information on the Grottoes

The location

Binglingsi Grottoes is located on the Small Jishi Hill, about 35 kilometers (about 22 miles) south-west of Yongjing County in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province. It is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. It lies just north of where the Yellow River empties into the Liujiaxia Reservoir created by the Liujiaxia Dam at Yongjing, about 80km from Lanzhou.

The history

The caves were a work in progress for more than a millennium. The first grotto was begun around 420 at the end of the Western Jin Dynasty. Work continued and more grottoes were added during the Wei, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Most of them were carved during the Tang Dynasty.

The scale

The Grottoes consist of three parts: Shangsi, Donggou, and Xiasi. Shangsi were ruined by fire and what remained are only a few statues of Buddhas. In Xiasi, there are 34 caves and 14 niches still existing.

Over the centuries, earthquakes, erosion, and looters have damaged or destroyed many of the caves and the artistic treasures within. Altogether there are 183 grotto niches displaying 694 stone figures and 82 clay figures in addition to more than 900 square meters of murals. The highest statue is 27 meters while the smallest one is only 20 centimeters. The statues are all with different postures and facial expressions. Binglingsi Grottoes is one of the ten largest Chinese grottoes.

What to enjoy

Famous for its stone sculptures, Binglingsi Grottoes stretches about 200 meters (about 600 feet) on the west cliff in Dasi Gully. Among the grottoes, the main characters are Sakyamuni, Kwan-yin, Amitayus Buddha, Maitreya Buddha, and other Buddhas. With elegant postures, flying robes and ribbons, the statues are life-like.

The major grottoes

  • Grotto No.169
    Made in the Northern Dynasties (386 - 581), Grotto No.169 is the tallest one carved within a natural cave which is 8 meters deep, 26 meters wide and 18 meters high. It is the most imposing and delicate one which holds the clay sculptures of Kwan-yin, Dali Buddha (Dali means powerful strength in Chinese), etc. Dali Buddha has a round face, sitting with legs crossed. When we see this sculpture we will feel its expression as being very solemn. On its two sides stands Bodhisattvas with their hair bound, waving bare arms. The grotto also houses the largest mural in Binglingsi, which is still bright and beautiful in color.
  • Grotto No.171
    Grotto No.171 houses the largest Buddhist statue, 27 meters high, with its upper body carved into the cliff and lower body made of clay. The statue seated cross-legged in meditation on a pedestal with the right hand resting on the lap and the left hand on the abdomen was sculptured in the 19th year of Dezong Reign of the Tang Dynasty.
  • Grotto No.125
    Cave No.125, which holds the stone sculpture of Sakyamuni, is also one not to be missed.

The intoxicating scenery

The ride to the Grottoes is pleasurable with vast corn fields, improbably fertile soil among riverbeds and distinctive red-caly banks carved by the incessant river current. In the vicinity of the grottoes are green hills, crystal water, grotesque stones and precipitous cliffs, which add more beauty to this artistic site.

How to go there

From Lanzhou City to Yongjing County, you can go there by expressway (around one hour). Then you can get to Binglingsi Grottoes by boat (the only way to go there and return).

When to visit

The site can only be reached by boat from Yongjing County during summer and fall. The rest of the year, the site is inaccessible because there is no road in the area.

  • Opening Time:
    From July to November
  • Opening Hours:
    09:10 to 11:30 in the morning 14:40 to 17:30 in the afternoon (From Tuesday to Saturday)

Attractions around » Lanzhou, Gan Su

Historical Site

Historical Site

Cultural Site

Cultural Site

Historical Relic

Historical Relic

Grottoes & Cave

Grottoes & Cave

Being one of the six famous Buddhist Grottoes, Binglingsi Grottoes is the second to Mogao Grottoes in respect of artistic value. Altogether there are 183 grotto niches displaying 694 stone figures and 82 clay figures in addition to more than 900 square meters of murals.

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