The Best Moments of My Travelling Days in China - Unravelling the Ancient Buddhist Grottoes of China (Part 4)

Bingling Si Grottoes - Gansu (2015)

Buddhist grottoes in China are a form of Buddhist architecture originated from India and most of these grottoes were built in remote mountains (public transport is a major challenge) along the Yellow River. The oldest Mogao grotto in Dun Huang, Gansu dates back to 1,600 years ago ! Of the twelve famous grottoes in China, I have so far visited eight !

If I ever visit Xian again, I would be keen to visit Maijishan Grottoes, located in Tianshui, Shaanxi. (this dream was fulfilled in May 2017 when I visited Maijishan in Tianshui)

The top 12 Buddhist Grottoes in China are :
1) Thousand Buddha Cave, Dun Huang - Gansu
2) Mogao Grottoes, Dun Huang - Gansu
3) Yulin Grottoes, Dun Huang - Gansu
4) Yungang Grottoes - Datong, Shanxi
5) Xumishan Grottoes - Ningxia
6) Xiangtangshan Grottoes - Fengfeng mining, Handan, Heibei
7) Binglingsi Grottoes - Gansu
8) Gongxian Grottoes - Gongxian, Henan
9) Longmen Grottoes - Luoyang, Henan
10) Maijishan Grottoes - Tianshui, Shaanxi
11) Dazu Rock Carving, Chongqing
12) Leshan Giant Buddha - Sichuan

1) Mogao Grottoes, Dun Huang, Gansu (visited in May 2006) - age about 1,600 years

2) Western Thousand Buddha Caves, Dun Huang, Gansu (visited in May 2006) - age about 1,300 years

3) Jiaohe Ancient City Bezeklik Caves, Dun Huang, Gansu (visited in May 2006) - built during the 6-9th centuries

4) Bing Ling Temple Grottoes, Gansu (visited in 2015) - built in 420 AD

5) Dazu Rock Carvings, Chongqing (visited in 2009) - built in 7th century AD

6) Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan (visited in 2009) - built during the Tang dynasty (in 713 AD) 

7) Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, Henan (visited in 2009) - age about 1,500 years

8) Yungang Grottoes, Datong, Shanxi (visited in 2009) - about 1,500 years

9) Maijishan, Tianshui, Shaanxi (May 2017)

10) Shuanglin Grottoes, Xinchang, Zhejiang Province