Yulin Grottoes

About the endless distance. Great changes are derived and return to all directions.

Guazhou is such a simple place... The train station has both male and female toilets... I'm shivering😱

Yulin Grottoes was a big surprise. I bought extra tickets for the Xixia special grottoes of Water Moon Guanyin in Cave 2 and Samantabhadra Transformation and Manjusri Transformation in Cave 3... The huge murals in Cave 3 have smooth white-drawing figures, imposing ink landscapes, and light stone blue coloring. The mountains are majestic, the water is vast, the pavilions are towering, and the clouds are light (no pictures, so you can't take pictures, just feel it yourself)... I was surprised that this was a Xixia mural, which blended the white-drawing figures and ink landscapes in Song Dynasty paintings so perfectly...

I heard that painters often have disabled left hands due to holding oil lamps all year round and the hot candle liquid dripping on their hands over the years.

Confucius said: "If I hear the truth in the morning, I am willing to die in the evening." Although I am not a believer in religion, I am persistent in my dreams and persistence. I fully understand the mentality of those who are willing to go through fire and water for their inner ideals... I often tell my friends that if someone can understand me and some of my past seemingly crazy behaviors, I will be honored... Even if no one understands, I will still die for it.

Highly recommend Yulin Caves

Yulin Grottoes are located in a canyon 75 kilometers south of Guazhou County. It was originally named Wanfo Gorge, but later it was renamed Yulin Grottoes because of the dense elm trees in the valley.

It is the sister cave of Mogao Grottoes and a branch of the system. There are 42 caves in existence, 32 caves on the east cliff and 32 caves on the west cliff.

Cave 10.

There are Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Western Xia, Yuan, and Qing dynasties.

Murals and sculptures built in the



Since the Yulin Grottoes are located in a relatively remote area, transportation is extremely inconvenient, and they are not publicized to the outside world, there are relatively few tourists coming and going. Because of this, the murals in the Yulin Grottoes are very well preserved, and are novel and colorful.

The tour guides at Yulin Grottoes were also very professional. Their explanations were extremely detailed and they answered every question, demonstrating their deep and solid foundation.

I benefited a lot from visiting the Yulin Grottoes. I think that if I only visit the Mogao Grottoes but not the Yulin Grottoes, it would be an incomplete experience. Only by visiting the Yulin Grottoes can I gain a full harvest. The two are inseparable and complement each other. I came to the Yulin Grottoes today and hired a car driven by Master Xie. He is very nice and honest.

When we reached a stone tablet, the navigation system told us we had arrived. We saw a parking lot but there were few cars. When we got off the car, there was no trace of the Yulin Grottoes. We followed the signs and walked along the dirt road ahead. It turned out that the Yulin Grottoes were hidden deep in a canyon in the desert.

We hiked down the dirt road, turned three times and twice, and finally reached the bottom of the canyon, where we unexpectedly came across a turbulent river.

Yulin Grottoes is like an oasis in the Gobi Desert... Yulin Grottoes is one of the first batch of key protected cultural relics in my country. Over the years, the focus has been on the research and restoration of the grottoes. Most of the tourists who come to visit Yulin Grottoes are scholars or graduate students who love grotto culture. The incredible art collection in the grottoes is amazing.

The protection of Yulin Grottoes is very good. It is strictly forbidden to take photos and videos during the visit. When we put down all electronic devices, we also calmed our restless hearts. The tour guide is a researcher from the Dunhuang Research Institute. In my opinion, the grotto culture is not the commentary he said, but the passionate love in his heart.

There are two types of tickets for Yulin Grottoes, one for the caves open all year round, and the other for a few of the most precious colored caves. Mr. Xu and I followed the guide of the Dunhuang Academy and walked forward. The guide's whispers were heard and felt in our hearts, but how could we understand the history of a thousand years in just half a day? The world is changing, and those murals have accumulated historical stories, becoming traces handed down from one layer to another. Everything will be covered by quicksand or become a drop in the ocean...

Yulin Grottoes are located in the south of Guazhou. They are similar in style to Mogao Grottoes and were built at the same time. They are all works after the Tang Dynasty. The murals here are more exquisite and there are not as many restrictions as in Mogao Grottoes, which allows tourists to enjoy the view. Yulin Grottoes are inconvenient to travel and the road is quite difficult to walk. Few tour groups come here to visit. With fewer people, you can have a better look.

Go down the steps and enter the Yulin River Valley (named after the elm trees on the river bank). The icy and cold meltwater from the snowy mountains has become turbid after a long journey across the Gobi Desert. The water flow is not large. There is a row of green trees growing along the river. The cliffs on both sides are towering, and the caves are carved on the cliffs. There are many caves on both sides of the cliffs, which are roughly divided into two layers. A long plank corridor was built on the cliffs for people to visit the caves. The corridor is like a long dragon flying on the cliff.

There are very few people here, less than a hundred people in total. We formed a team of about 20 people and entered the cave for a visit under the guidance of a female tour guide. We were not allowed to take photos in the cave, and we were not allowed to touch the murals and Buddha statues with our hands. We first visited the three caves at the bottom, then went up the plank road to visit four caves, and finally came down to see the largest reclining Buddha. It took about an hour and a half in total. The tour guide explained very well and in detail, with vivid and interesting language and interesting stories, which gave me a lot of knowledge.

I know nothing about paintings, but during the visit, I was still deeply shocked. I was filled with great amazement and infinite regret.

When you walk into the caves that are thousands of years old and see the murals and statues that are thousands of years old, you can't help but exclaim in amazement. They are so beautiful, and at the same time, a solemn and mysterious feeling arises spontaneously. The murals are gorgeous, rich and exquisite, and the statues are vivid and lifelike. Many of the pigments used in paintings are ground from natural minerals, and some pigments are even ground from gems. In particular, a very beautiful sky blue is made of lapis lazuli, which is imported from Afghanistan and costs three times as much as gold.

There were many regrets during the visit. Many murals and statues were destroyed by natural factors. For example, some murals fell off due to rainwater seepage from the cave ceiling; some lead in the pigments turned black due to a long time; some caves collapsed due to the impact of river water. But what is more regrettable is the man-made destruction. For example, in order to facilitate walking, all caves were connected by tunnels, which destroyed many murals; some caves were used as dormitories and warehouses, which destroyed many murals and Buddha statues; and some were good intentions but bad deeds. For example, the previous murals fell off or the color faded, and later generations repainted them. As a result, the quality of the repainted parts was not high and the beauty of the original paintings was destroyed, making them neither fish nor fowl.

Finally, the tour guide said something that made everyone silent. She said: "Perhaps in a thousand or hundred years, the colors of these murals will disappear naturally, and people will never see these artistic treasures again." Oh, it's really heartbreaking to hear.

Although there are many excellent statues in Yulin Grottoes, they cannot represent the value of Yulin Grottoes. The value of Yulin Grottoes is mainly reflected in the exquisite murals. The murals in Yulin Grottoes are very rich in content, including exquisite portraits of Buddha and Bodhisattva, grand Buddhist story paintings, a wide variety of flowers, animals, extremely delicate decorative patterns, and portraits of donors.

We were lucky to come across Yulin Grottoes after a heavy snowfall. The road was covered with ice and snow. When we arrived, we were the only tourists there. After clearing the snow, the guide took us to see the eight caves on the east cliff in detail. The west cliff is never open, and the river in the middle never freezes all year round. The river water is flowing, which is very artistic. The advantage of Yulin Grottoes is that the murals are well preserved, so good that the traces of the drafts, coloring, and positioning by the ancients are clearly visible.

The outer layer of the Yulin Grottoes is also locked by the gate, and it will only be opened when the staff guides you to visit~ The general ticket for the Yulin Grottoes will take you to see 6 grottoes. If you want to see the classic grottoes or other grottoes, you need to pay extra. The staff here are quite conscientious and will not recommend you to pay extra to see the grottoes unless you are particularly fond of grottoes or specialize in research or art students. Under normal circumstances, they do not particularly recommend ordinary tourists to see special grottoes.

Yulin Grottoes, also known as Wanfo Gorge, has 43 caves excavated. The caves were carved on the vertical cliffs on both sides of the Yulin River Gorge, and were named after the elm trees on the river bank. The time of its construction is unknown, but it is inferred that it was founded in the Northern Wei Dynasty, and it was carved and painted in the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Western Xia, Yuan, and Qing dynasties. The legendary treasure of the grottoes, the ivory Buddha, is not in Yulin Grottoes, but can be seen in Guazhou Museum. Because of the competition for this rare treasure with a history of thousands of years, four people have been killed in recorded history, three of whom were abbots of Yulin Grottoes. During the Spring Festival in 1990, this cultural relic was stolen by thieves who made a hole in the roof, but fortunately it was recovered again.

When it comes to Yulin Grottoes art, murals are its most representative carrier. There are more than 5,650 square meters of murals, accounting for about one-ninth of the total area of Mogao Grottoes murals, and most of them are well preserved, making it a treasure trove of mural art second only to Mogao Grottoes. After more than 1,200 years of accumulation and precipitation, its content is very rich, including grand scenes of huge sutra paintings, fine single-piece statue paintings, fantastic decorative paintings, mysterious esoteric paintings, and all-encompassing life paintings. From the Tang Dynasty to the Qing Dynasty, except for the Ming Dynasty, which did not draw murals because Jiajing closed Jiayuguan, other dynasties have praised masterpieces, filling the regrets of Mogao Grottoes art.



Yulin Grottoes has regular caves and special caves (2, 3, 4, 25), with special people giving regular explanations. Yulin Grottoes is mainly used for research, and is semi-protected and semi-open. The tour guides are also researchers. There are not many tourists, and more than ten people are given explanations at a time. As soon as you enter the special caves, you will be amazed by the gorgeous colors. The preservation is so good, the shapes are precise and vivid, and the lines are smooth and powerful. It is really a national treasure (the murals seen later in Mogao Grottoes have changed color, and the impact is greatly reduced). Most of the statues are Qing Dynasty sculptures, which are not very impressive. The tour guide points and talks at the same time, and there is no need for headphones. If you have any questions, you can ask them at any time, and the tour guide will answer them immediately. In addition to the intuitive feeling of beauty, it is also a rich knowledge journey.

This is the third cave of Yulin Grottoes. I like it very much. The lines are smooth and flowing, which is amazing. There are also many interactions between the characters, and the charm is vivid.

Below is Cave 25, which has many details and beautiful colors. The caves are actually rich and colorful, and the books and albums only show a part of it. I highly recommend watching it in person. I felt a little sorry when I bought the ticket, but after seeing it, I felt it was worth it. It's really fragrant!

(You can click on my travel notes for detailed introduction)

Yulin Grottoes are part of the Dunhuang Grottoes and were excavated before the Sui and Tang Dynasties. There are 43 existing caves from the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Western Xia, Yuan and other dynasties, distributed on the cliffs on the east and west banks of the Yulin River, with 32 caves on the east cliff and 11 caves on the west cliff. There are 4,200 square meters of murals and 259 colored sculptures, accounting for about one-ninth of the total area of the Mogao Grottoes murals. Yulin Grottoes are of the same lineage as Mogao Grottoes in terms of content, artistic style and painting form, and are sister caves. The value of Yulin Grottoes is mainly reflected in the exquisite murals, including exquisite Buddha and Bodhisattva portraits, grand Buddhist story paintings, a wide variety of flowers and animals, and extremely delicate decorative patterns. Most of the murals were created during the 800 years from the Tang Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty. Some images are not seen in other grottoes, such as the portrait of the Cao family, the governor of Guazhou (Cave 19), the image of the painter of the Duhuo Painting Academy, the portrait of the Shazhou craftsman, the Duhuo Painting Academy's Shi Bao, the portrait of the painter Wu Baolin (Cave 35), the portrait of the Tangut military officer during the Western Xia Dynasty, and the picture of the Tang monk seeking Buddhist scriptures. Among them, the Tang Dynasty murals in Cave 25 are rare treasures in the world.

We chose three special caves, No. 25, No. 2 and No. 3, which were eye-opening.

First of all, the murals in the special caves are very intact and contain a lot of information, especially Special Cave No. 25.

Secondly, the person who gave the explanation was very professional. He spoke about Special Cave No. 25 for nearly 40 minutes. His explanation was very good. Not only were the murals in it described vividly and in a simple and easy-to-understand way, but the transitions in teaching were also very perfect.



Cave No. 2 and Cave No. 3 (both excavated during the Western Xia period) both contain the picture of Xuanzang's journey to the West (three hundred years before the writing of Journey to the West). There are a total of 6 such pictures in the entire Dunhuang Grottoes.

Yulin Grottoes are located in Guazhou County, Jiuquan City, Gansu Province, 75km southwest of Guazhou County and about 100km east of Dunhuang City. Next to it is the Yulin River (also known as the Tashi River). Due to the climate and geographical environment, Yulin Grottoes are surrounded by a vast desert. The scenery is very open and unobstructed, making it very suitable for sightseeing.

【Attractions】

The 40 yuan ordinary ticket for Yulin Grottoes includes 6 caves. The explanation takes about 1-1.5 hours. The guide is very patient. Although the caves are not as big as Mogao Grottoes, they are well preserved, with exquisite paintings. The most important thing is that there are few people. I also visited the 3rd and 25th special caves (I saw that everyone recommended these two caves in the comments). The ink painting in Cave 3 is very exquisite and unique, and Cave 25 is from the Tang Dynasty. The sutra painting is very complete and exquisite. These two pictures are the most impressive in the entire Dunhuang trip. Moreover, Mogao Grottoes can only enter the special caves in the off-season, while Yulin Grottoes can also enter in the peak season. It can also be regarded as an experience of the most exquisite murals.

【transportation】

When planning the trip, I found that there were only round-trip chartered cars from Dunhuang. In fact, Guazhou is closer to Yulin Grottoes, so it is more convenient and cheaper to charter a car from Guazhou. There are very few chartered cars in Guazhou on travel apps. I looked for other people's reviews for a long time before I found the driver. When I arrived, I found that the driver was a taxi driver, which was safer. The price our driver gave was 180 to go to Yulin Grottoes only, plus 240 to Suoyang City. It is much cheaper than walking from Dunhuang! ! In addition, there are many taxi drivers at the door of Guazhou Station who can charter cars. It is relatively safe. I didn't ask the specific price. The one we chartered was Master Miao, who was very simple, and Ms. Master Liu was also very attentive. The two masters also brought us Silver Emperor melons, which were super sweet. They also bought us watermelons on the roadside to quench our thirst and told us how to go back to Dunhuang. Thank you very much to the two masters. If you need anything, you can contact Master Miao 151 0174 1622, Master Liu 152 9327 9825

Many people confuse the Yulin Grottoes with Yulin in Shaanxi. The Yulin Grottoes are located in Guazhou, Gansu. It actually has another name called Wanfo Gorge. It is just because the caves are carved on the east and west cliffs of the Yulin River Gorge, so it is called Yulin Grottoes because of the Yulin River. Yulin Grottoes and Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang are sister grottoes, but there are relatively few people here. The explanations are much more detailed than those in Mogao Grottoes, and taking photos is strictly prohibited. There are four special grottoes to visit.

I feel that compared with Mogao Grottoes, there are gaps in all aspects. If I have to choose between the two, I would choose Mogao Grottoes!

People only know about Mogao Grottoes, but few know about Yulin Grottoes, whose achievements are definitely not inferior to Mogao Grottoes! After visiting the 6 general caves for 40 yuan, I also applied for special caves 3 and 25... The Xixia murals in cave 3 are exquisite, and cave 25 is a masterpiece of the Tang Dynasty! Highly recommended!



The transportation here is not very convenient. It costs about 150 yuan to charter a car from Guazhou, and about 400 yuan from Dunhuang!

It's a little far away, but the tickets are very cheap. Maybe it's because of the remote location that not many people go there.

It was around 4:30 pm when we arrived at Yulin Grottoes. The sun was glaring but not aggressive enough. Looking at the dry riverbed, the earthen buildings, and some sticky weeping willows along the riverbed, it felt like my hometown in the summer when I was a child.

Yulin Grottoes and Mogao Grottoes are of similar age and style, and are both managed by the Dunhuang Academy. Due to its remote location and far fewer grottoes than Mogao Grottoes, it has been in a state of trial opening, so there are not many tourists.

There is a restroom at the ticket gate of Yulin Grottoes. The restroom is not big, but very clean.

There were groups every half an hour, with guides. There were only four of us in this area, and a guide took us to visit six caves.

Photography is not allowed in the caves. Those who are interested can visit the official website of the Dunhuang Research Institute to visit the digitized caves. Because there were few people, we curiously asked the tour guide whether we had to study archaeology to work here. The young man said that those who studied art could also do so, as he himself majored in art. He did not recommend us to visit the special caves of Yulin Caves. He said that the reason why the special caves are called special caves is not that they are particularly well preserved, but that their research and artistic values are relatively high. If you are not an art major or an archaeology major, or have done some research in advance and are particularly interested, it is not recommended to spend money to visit the special caves.

First, I visited a cave reconstructed in the Qing Dynasty, where the God of Wind, the God of Rain, the God of Thunder, and the Goddess of Lightning were depicted. It is believed that this was a cave where the people prayed for rain. There are no murals in this cave.

The caves of the later Five Dynasties were much more gorgeous. The clan of Jiedushi Cao Yuanzhong opened caves and made statues in Yulin Grottoes and Mogao Grottoes. The portraits of the donors are still brightly colored. The thousand Buddha statues inside are also beautifully colored. The layout of the sutra murals in some caves is extremely similar, as if they were copied and pasted; except for the places where light shines into the cave entrance, some of the pigments are oxidized or turned white and light, or oxidized and black. The light-proof parts are still colorful. The patterns of the bucket-shaped ceilings are intricate and exquisite, which can be seen in Yulin Grottoes.

At the entrances of some caves, it is inevitable to see “I was here” inscriptions from past dynasties. You can even see a “I was here” by Stein, the British who stole a large number of cultural relics from the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

Yulin Grottoes are in Guazhou. If you don't drive yourself, you have to charter a car. Yulin Grottoes has fewer tourists than Mogao Grottoes. No need to make an appointment, just come and buy tickets on site. The murals in its ordinary and special caves are well preserved and brightly colored (most of the figures' skin is flesh pink, while the figures in the Mogao Grottoes' ordinary caves have become black due to oxidation, and only a few are flesh pink). Especially those from the Western Xia period, the artistic value is even higher than that of Mogao Grottoes. Most of the sculptures were rebuilt during the Qing Dynasty and are relatively ordinary. Therefore, the main purpose of coming to Yulin Grottoes is to appreciate the murals.

The special caves of Yulin Grottoes are open in both off-season and peak season. There are only 4 caves that can be visited, cave 2---100 yuan, cave 3---150 yuan, cave 4---100 yuan, cave 25---200 yuan. Currently only cash is accepted! Please be sure to bring enough cash. In case of special weather (too much wind and sand or high humidity), it will not be open. So if you are going to see the special caves, it is best to call and confirm on the day you want to go. If you don't want to see all the special caves, it is recommended to choose 25-3-2-4.

The Tang Dynasty murals in Cave 25 are rare treasures in the world and are known as the No. 1 cave in Dunhuang. My favorite is the Samantabhadra Manjusri Sutra in Cave 3, which has classic line drawings and beautiful postures. It took less than an hour to see the general caves, and nearly an hour and a half to see the three special caves.

Some feelings:

When we arrived at Yulin Grottoes, we learned that due to the high humidity caused by the rain in the previous few days, the Special Grottoes had been closed from the day before until now. Not to mention that the little girl was so disappointed that she almost cried, I also felt a sinking in my heart. Because I had watched a documentary before and felt that the murals and sculptures in the Special Grottoes were more exquisite, the little girl had always wanted to see the Special Grottoes in person. She had been thinking about it for a long time and even asked to pay for the visit to the Special Grottoes from her own New Year's money. Unfortunately, the Special Grottoes of Mogao Grottoes were not open during the peak season, while the Special Grottoes of Yulin Grottoes were also open during the peak season. In order to meet the little girl's wish, we specially arranged an extra day of itinerary.

Fortunately, after we visited the general caves, the weather was fine and the special caves were open again. I was so happy at that time, thinking that this was perfect. After visiting the special caves, I felt that it was worth it and there was no regret.

Because Yulin Grottoes are also managed by the Dunhuang Academy, the tour guides are all professionals from the academy. They quoted classics and explained very thoroughly. The tour guide when we visited the Yulin Grottoes was Mr. Xing, a handsome young man born in the 1990s. He was very talented, knowledgeable, and his explanations were vivid and emotional, and his voice was also very nice.

When I was in Lanzhou, I asked the girl: "I can go to the Yellow River rafting for nearly three times for 200 yuan. If I let you choose again, which one would you choose?" She said without hesitation: "The rafting." Why? I was still very surprised. Don't children like playful activities, especially rafting and playing in the water?

She said: You can go rafting anywhere, but the special caves (probably referring to the murals in the special caves) are only in Dunhuang, and they will slowly disappear, and you may not be able to see them anymore in the future.

An 8-year-old girl actually has such awareness and realm. It has once again refreshed my understanding of her. Therefore, friends who have not yet been to the Mogao Grottoes and Yulin Grottoes must also hurry up.

(Highly recommended) Guazhou has a long history and is known as the hometown of honeydew melons in China, the "hometown of Chinese Cynomorium", the general cotton base of Gansu, and the granary of the Hexi Corridor. Tourist attractions include Yulin Grottoes-Suoyang City-Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves, as well as Guazhou Museum, Zhangzhi Park Xuanzang Museum, West Route Army Memorial Hall, Shuangta Lake Scenic Area, etc. The content and style of the murals in Yulin Grottoes are inseparable from the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. It is also known as the sister cave of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and is an important part of the Dunhuang Grottoes art system. Guazhou County is about 75km away from Lin Grottoes, and it takes about an hour to drive there. There is no bus here, so you can only charter a car to go forward. The unique scenery along the way will make you nostalgic for the round trip! You can pick up and drop off at the gas station and the railway station for free, with reasonable prices and enthusiastic service, which will make you remember that there is a good driver to serve you. Yulin Grottoes, Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes-Mingsha Mountain Crescent Lake One-Day Tour. Regardless of spring, summer, autumn and winter, rain or shine, it can't stop our love for travel. The strokes of Yulin Grottoes are very good. Friends who like it can go and have a look! ! !

Yulin Grottoes is also part of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

The Yulin Grottoes are not in Dunhuang, but in Guazhou.

It has been vigorously promoted abroad, so relatively speaking, there are fewer people.

Yulin Grottoes stipulates that only 6 grottoes are open to the public (4 special grottoes, divided into

The Tang, Xixia, Song and Yuan dynasties are included separately.

Fee), which are basically murals from the Five Dynasties and the Song Dynasty.

Relatively speaking, it is slightly better than Mogao Grottoes.

Since the front porch did not collapse, sunlight was difficult to enter.

In the caves, the color of the murals is relatively

Preserve better.

Of course, the most important point is that due to the small flow of people,

The guide can explain the murals patiently and in detail.

They will give introductions and answer basically all the questions from tourists.

The answer is in the mainstream, showing a good historical foundation.

For the Mogao Grottoes, the guides

It's hard to describe

(Of course, it could also be the Mogao Grottoes that I encountered.

personal issues of the counsellor).

Yulin Grottoes are nearly 70 kilometers away from Guazhou County.

You can drive yourself or hire a car. I found a local driver named Xie.

Master Xie is very easy-going, enthusiastic, and patient. He helped us take photos along the way and provided very good service. I recommend friends who are traveling to Yulin Grottoes to contact him.

Yulin Inn

There is no first in literature, but there is always a second in caves. The Mogao Grottoes in Shazhou have been transformed into an art palace, while the Yulin Grottoes in Guazhou are still simple and look like just a post station.

The advantage of a post station is that there are few people and no commercial presence, so against the backdrop of the green elm forest, your mood must be green as well. Among the six "cave" books I have read, no cave has ever made me feel so comfortable, in terms of emotion and scenery, pure thoughts and a pure heart.

If Mogao Grottoes is like an American blockbuster movie, where after the excitement, you forget the details as you walk out of the theater, then Yulin Grottoes is an Iranian art film. Until now, I can not only remember the calmness of the tour guides, but also the Yulin Grottoes described by the tour guides as being indifferent to fame and fortune, the smoke and fire of the White Bandits, the raging floods, but Yulin is still there, and the sunsets are red again.

It took me three hours to drive from Dunhuang to reach the Yulin Grottoes. Standing on the high plank road and looking at the Yulin forest, my mood was just like what the slogan said: don't rush, go and feel the road.

The caves are carved on the vertical cliffs on both sides of the Yulin River Canyon. Yulin Grottoes is the sister grotto of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. The ticket is 40 yuan, and you can only see 6 grottoes. Some special grottoes are charged separately. If you have a certain understanding and research on the grottoes, you can go to the special grottoes, but the price is more expensive.

A tour was led by a guide, and about ten people entered the cave to visit. The management was very good. I have been to the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi. It was crowded and there was no administrator to explain. I could only listen to what other guides said. In this comparison, I think the cave director of the Yungang Grottoes should really lead a team to learn from it.

The time has changed. We were not allowed to enter when we arrived. They were not allowed to enter at 4:30 pm.

The Yulin Grottoes are carved into the cliffs on both sides of the Yulin River. They are still under continuous maintenance and repair. Although they are not as famous as the Mogao Grottoes, the murals in the Yulin Grottoes are well preserved. The two differences are that the Yulin Grottoes are explained to tourists by researchers from the Mogao Grottoes Research Institute using their professional knowledge, and the explanations are very detailed! Worth a visit

Although there are regrets, there are also surprises. Guazhou left us with a deep impression, that is, Yulin Grottoes. The scenery along the way is natural. Because it is not as famous as Mogao Grottoes, it focuses more on academic research and is not publicized. The caves are better protected. The river valley on the cliff is like a crack in the earth, which is very spectacular!

Yulin Grottoes are far away from the county seat, about 75 kilometers away.

The natural scenery along the way was beautiful. We saw large tracts of red willow forests, camels and sheep.

On the way, we passed a small town - Suoyang Town. Outside the town was the desert Gobi with a very broad view. Master Gao drove very steadily. Sitting in the car and watching the scenery, I felt extremely comfortable.

Although the road was long, we arrived at Yulin Grottoes unknowingly as we enjoyed the beautiful natural scenery and had a great conversation with Master Gao.

The car drove to a flat land. I didn't expect that there would be more people than I imagined in such a far place, and the cars were all parked.

Going down the entrance steps, I was surprised to see that there was a desert Gobi above, but down there were green trees and gurgling water. The Yulin Grottoes were located on the cliffs on the east and west sides. The difference in height between the upper and lower parts was so great that it was truly a beautiful picture.

Some parts of the murals in Yulin Grottoes have fallen off, but overall they are well protected, with bright colors and clear lines. I paid 40 yuan to see 6 ordinary caves. The guide said that I could see 7 caves before. Although one is missing, it is worth it. The guide was very detailed and professional, not impatient, and left a deep impression.

I heard that there are special caves, and I really want to visit them. However, due to time constraints, I will have to wait for a chance to come back in the future to appreciate more exquisite artistic masterpieces in the special caves.

For friends who like cave art, it is recommended to go to Yulin Grottoes. Although it is far, it is worth it.

I strongly recommend visiting the special caves. I visited Cave No. 3. The Manjusri and Samantabhadra in it are all works of the Western Xia Dynasty. It can be said that the painting has reached the level of exquisite craftsmanship. The line drawing technique is very colorful. There is also the prototype of Sun Wukong. I recommend my chartered car master, Master Xie.

It is 160 kilometers one way from Dunhuang City to Yulin Grottoes in Guazhou County. Since there are no buses, you can rent a car to drive yourself or charter a car for about 450 yuan. If you take the train to Guazhou, you can also charter a car from Guazhou County for about 200 yuan. Although this is slightly cheaper, it takes more time. If there are less than 3 people, it is recommended to join a local individual group, which seems to be available on China-TravelNote and Taobao. For more than 3 people, just charter a car.

Standing at the bottom of the Yulin River Valley, you can hear the sound of the wind coming from far away, the sound of water coming from near and far away, and the sound of the swaying leaves is like a story told for thousands of years. Mr. Zhang Daqian came here and saw the murals that are more perfectly preserved than those in Mogao Grottoes, and the river water is sweeter than that in Mogao Grottoes. There is not as much sad history of looting and destruction as in Mogao Grottoes. Although there are traces of blood, it cannot cover up the dreamlike Buddhist art in each cave. Their brilliance has made me and many others come to this desolate and cold place from thousands of miles away, inspired to come and worship...

The guides were researchers who gave very detailed explanations. The visit was also strict. You had to go out of the cave to drink water. The Buddha statues were solemn. The fat flying fairy on the lintel of the cave was also dancing. You had to hold your breath and listen carefully. Unlike the Mogao Grottoes, the Yulin Grottoes had to lock the door again after visiting each grotto.

Yulin Grottoes has fewer staff, and many people buy tickets at the same time, so they are all gathered together to visit. I can understand that, but it really takes a lot of time. To be honest, there is nothing to see in the general grottoes, and I don’t know if it’s because the popularity of Yulin Grottoes is not high enough, but the cave is much colder than Mogao Grottoes. Children who are afraid of cold should bring a shawl. After watching the exhibition of mysterious Dunhuang in Shenzhen, I have been dreaming about Yulin Grottoes. The copied works are so bad, let alone the originals? ! So it has always been my dream to see its true appearance. I have always been able to see the originals, because they are really far from it. So, needless to say, see all 4 special grottoes! You can’t take pictures of the originals as usual, so you can search online.

Yulin Grottoes are also known as the sister grottoes of Mogao Grottoes. Due to the small number of tourists, they are better preserved than Mogao Grottoes. It takes more than 40 minutes to drive to the provincial road from Guazhou South Station on Lianhuo Expressway.

There are indeed far fewer people than the Mogao Grottoes.

Entering the scenic area from a small road, we discovered countless treasures hidden on the mountain walls on both sides of the river. The ticket to Yulin Grottoes is not expensive. You can see six caves for a few dozen yuan. There are also special caves. We spent 100 yuan to see Cave No. 2 with "Water Moon Guanyin". Compared with the later painted ones, it is really rare for the murals to be preserved so beautifully for such a long time. There are special guides to explain the paid viewing, which is worth it, but you cannot take pictures in the caves.

Yulin Grottoes are located in the river valley. The artistic value of the murals is not less than that of Mogao Grottoes. The key is that they are well preserved and less damaged by human beings. They are mainly used for more scientific research projects. Therefore, the murals in many grottoes are still colorful and lifelike, and the sculptures are still vivid and real. The tour guide is a researcher. The explanation of historical allusions is easy to understand and highly professional. The 40 yuan ticket saw six caves. There were not many people, and it was rare to watch quietly. Master Wu drove and took care of us on the way. It was very smooth to go back and forth to Guazhou. You can communicate with him at will. 138-9376-5768. This trip has gained a lot. I will find Master Wu again when I come to Yulin Grottoes to see a few more artistic special caves.

The murals in the Special Caves are complete and exquisite. Of course, it would be better if you know some knowledge about Buddhism. Although we are laymen, we are still quite shocked when we see them.

I like Guazhou very much, the beauty of Yulin Grottoes, the beauty of the ruins of Suoyang City Ruins, and the honesty of Guazhou people. The chartered driver I used today was also found here. It was really good to use him. I highly recommend: Master Wu 138 9376 5768. When I mentioned Guazhou, he brought two Guazhous to pick me up at the hotel. So sweet! He was also very patient to help take pictures in the red willow forest. In a place, it is often the people you meet who leave the deepest impression on you!

I traveled a long way to Yulin Grottoes, and the ticket was still 40 yuan. This time, I came to see the 3rd and 25th special caves with a long-standing admiration. After all, they are high-level special caves that cannot be seen in Mogao Grottoes. I thought they would not be open for major renovations this year, but in fact, they are the same as before. I visited the 5th, 11th, 13th, 17th, 19th, and 21st caves in the general caves. They are well preserved. The white murals do not fade like those in Mogao Grottoes. The level of the guide is quite high. He is very easy to understand when talking about the general caves and very professional when talking about the special caves. Later, he told me that it was the paper he wrote on the six pictures of Xuanzang's journey to the West that solved many of my questions. When I visited Cave 25, a Japanese team came later, and they were all enthusiasts like me. However, if you are not interested in the culture and art of the grottoes, you can choose not to come. It is indeed very remote. (There are still many people coming and they come from all over the country) Of course, the special caves are better preserved than the general caves. Don't miss them if you are interested. It is much more meaningful to see a special cave for one or two hundred yuan than to watch a concert, have a meal and stay overnight. The only thing I am not satisfied with is that of the 6 caves, 5 and 11 are from the Qing Dynasty. The other four were built in the Tang Dynasty but were all rebuilt in the Song Dynasty. However, the murals here are as good as new and better than those in Mogao Grottoes (which may also be related to the relatively recent age). Cave 21 is unexpected. I haven't heard that it has been opened, but it is not much different from the others. If you are interested in this place, you can wait for a while until Cave 6 (Big Buddha Cave) and Cave 15 (Tang Dynasty murals in the front room) are opened before coming.

Rating: SS Cave 25 has a complete mural of the Middle Tang Dynasty. Later, I saw many copies and introductions of this cave in Dunhuang. The tour guide told me that this cave might be a large official cave built by Tubo to celebrate the friendship with the Tang Dynasty. He believed that caves like Mogao Caves 172 and 217 were built by aristocratic families, while this cave was built by the government, so it was of a higher level. The Shanghai World Expo City Footprint Pavilion also replicated Cave 25 and Mogao Cave 220, which I have also seen.

The content of the Xixia Cave 3 is the most varied. You can see Tang Monk seeking Buddhist scriptures, and the transformation of Manjusri into Samantabhadra is simply the best in the country. The tour guide pointed out that the Taoist costumes in the mural on the right side of the cave may be the Emperor Renzong of the Xixia Dynasty, so the level of Caves 2 and 3 is so high.

The S-level Cave 2 of Western Xia also has rich contents, but is slightly inferior to Cave 3. It mainly features the best Water-Moon Guanyin. Later, I read a research book on Dunhuang that pointed out that Caves 2 and 3 might have been painted by top Southern Song Dynasty painters hired by Western Xia, so the level is extremely high, which is completely incomparable to the Mogao Grottoes.

A-level Cave 6 Great Buddha Cave (the third in Dunhuang)

Cave 12: Lady Murong's Outing Cave 15: Tang Dynasty murals that can be seen in the general caves Cave 17: Early Tang Dynasty central tower column shape (repainted in the Song Dynasty) Cave 19: Cao Yuanzhong's statue Others are below Class B

The murals of the Middle Tang Dynasty and Western Xia Dynasty in Yulin Grottoes are incomparable to those in Mogao Grottoes. Unfortunately, most of the murals open to the public are from the Five Dynasties and Song Dynasty. Those who are interested in grottoes and art must not miss the special grottoes open all year round. Mogao Grottoes are only open in the off-season. (As for the study tour of Dunhuang (visiting one more special grotto in Mogao Grottoes and Yulin Grottoes), it is not necessary. This will fix the time and force you to see Silk Road Flower Language, which is actually to sell more tickets for Silk Road Flower Language)

This attraction was recommended by the massage master when we were having a massage in Dunhuang after a day of driving. In Guazhou, it takes another hour to drive after getting off the highway, but there are not many people. Intersecting at Mogao Grottoes, it is so worth it! I went to Mogao Grottoes 15 years ago. At that time, there were not many caves that could be visited, unlike the current flow limit, but I can’t remember whether it was 4 or 5. In addition, I was young at that time, and I couldn’t appreciate the exquisite murals. I only remember Wang Daoshi’s historical stories. Many years later, I went to this sister cave called Mogao Grottoes. I followed the guide to visit one cave after another. I could clearly feel the height and low of sculpture and painting techniques in different eras. This contrast is really interesting, especially when it appears on the same sculpture! I saw five or six caves along the way and heard a lot of little stories, which is quite interesting. Yulin Grottoes itself is in a canyon, and the scenery inside and outside the canyon is also very beautiful!

Overall it's worth a visit, and you must see the special caves.

The sister cave of Mogao Grottoes. Due to its lesser fame, the caves have been well protected, especially the Xixia murals, whose artistic value exceeds that of Mogao Grottoes.

We stood on the barren slope next to the Yulin Grottoes and looked into the distance. All we could see was barrenness, except for a touch of green along the Yulin River Valley. However, this barrenness gave people a different visual impact.

It is said that the grottoes are on the cliffs next to the Yulin River Valley. We walked towards the location where the grottoes were supposed to be. In the end, we were persuaded to give up by the staff. Although we didn't see the Yulin Grottoes, we gained the ruins of Pochengzi and the extremely dry desert, which was worth it.

Managed by the Dunhuang Academy, the ticket price is 40 yuan. The visiting method is the same as Mogao Grottoes, but because there are fewer people, there is no need to book tickets in advance.

I forgot how many caves I visited, probably about 5-6. The age of the murals in Yulin Caves is slightly later than that of Mogao Caves, but due to the terrain and climate, they are well preserved. Yulin Caves is the most worthwhile place to visit on my trip to Dunhuang. Because I saw the special caves in Yulin Caves, hahahaha! There are four special caves open to the public in Yulin Caves, Cave 2, Cave 3, Cave 4, and Cave 25. Since we have to go to Suoyang City next, and other people in the group will not visit the special caves, I only have enough time to visit one special cave, so I visited Cave 3, the ticket is 150 yuan, and the guide leads the tour alone. My favorite thing about Cave 3 is the two sutra paintings, "Manjusri Transformation" and "Samantabhadra Transformation". Cave 3 is relatively tall and wide, and the two sutra paintings occupy the entire wall on the left and right of the cave entrance, which gives people a very shocking feeling. Because the position is backlit, the two sutra paintings are well preserved, with bright colors and clear lines, solemn and vivid treasures, and complex and elegant costumes. The most beautiful thing is the blue in the murals, which is made of Afghan cyanite, and the color is bright and soft. The two sutra paintings mainly depict the scenes of Manjusri Bodhisattva and Samantabhadra Bodhisattva in their dojo, Mount Emei and Mount Wutai, respectively. The differences between the north and the south are clearly distinguished through bamboo, wood, rocks, water patterns, pavilions, and towers. It is hard to imagine how the painters in the Western Xia era understood the different geographical features of the north and the south thousands of miles away so clearly. There are many interesting contents in the two sutra paintings, and the guide will explain them one by one during the visit. The other murals in the cave are also well preserved and have artistic value, but my artistic cells are limited, and my knowledge of Buddhist culture is insufficient, so I can't appreciate the mystery well. But this still does not prevent me from thinking that this is a very interesting and worthwhile experience!

Welcome to our beautiful Guazhou. I receive tourists from all over the country all year round. I am warm and considerate, the price is reasonable, the technology is strong, and the procedures are complete, which will give you a pleasant journey.

In order to save money and time, it is recommended that you choose to charter a car from Guazhou. If you choose to charter a car, please take a regular taxi. This car has complete procedures and insurance. Please rest assured to choose me.

Guazhou-Yulin Grottoes, Suoyang City, East Thousand Buddha Caves

Guazhou Yiqiaowan Ancient City, Yadan Landform, Populus euphratica Forest

Dunhuang - Mogao Grottoes, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, Western Jin Dynasty Tombs

Dunhuang-West Line Yadan Geopark, one-day tour

Contact number, WeChat ID, 15593728212 Master Song

During the trip to the Western Regions, Guazhou left the deepest impression. On the way to Yulin Grottoes, there was no trace of human activities in the vast Gobi Desert. The sky and earth were empty, and my mood became ethereal. The Buddhist grottoes were all carved on the cliffs on both sides of the river. The Yulin River in front of the Yulin Grottoes is the most beautiful and has the best scenery. Compared with Dunhuang, Yulin Grottoes has fewer tourists, so you can leisurely visit them bit by bit. You can also go to Suoyang City, East Thousand Buddha Caves and Pochengzi on the way.

It is worth mentioning that this time I chartered a car six times, and the best driver was Master Gao from Guazhou. The service was warm and thoughtful. I recommend it to everyone. Master Gao is a beautiful lady. Phone number: 18794700155

The Yulin Grottoes are on the way from Jiayuguan to Dunhuang. It is the sister cave of the Mogao Grottoes. They both belong to Dunhuang art, but compared with the Mogao Grottoes, it is much less famous.

The off-season visiting hours of Yulin Grottoes are from 10:00 to 17:00 (ticket sales stop at 16:00). We arrived at the ticket office at exactly 4:10, so it was a pity that we were unable to enter the grottoes and appreciate its art and culture.

There is a stream running across the entrance of Yulin Grottoes. It was spring when we went there and the valley was full of blooming apricot blossoms. We could smell the fragrance of the flowers and listen to the gurgling stream. Even though we couldn't see the murals in the grottoes, we didn't feel sad.

Tips

1. Tickets: Adult price: 40 yuan/person, children under 1.2 meters are free of charge

2. Yulin Grottoes have been temporarily closed, and the specific opening time needs to wait for official notification;

Friends who have plans to visit Yulin Grottoes in the near future, please take note! Yulin Grottoes will be closed for construction from April 25 to June 20, 2018!

There is really too little tourist information about Yulin Grottoes. I was attracted by its mystery and added one more day to the seven-day Qinghai-Gansu Grand Loop self-driving tour, just to see the Yulin Grottoes where Master Zhang Daqian devoted himself to study. As a result, after finishing the Mogao Grottoes tour today, I drove straight here, but was turned away at the door! 😭😭😭 There is only one week left, and I am so unlucky. I blame myself for not doing enough homework. Is it to leave me a reason to come to Yulin Grottoes again? I came across a desert rose in the desert, which was a consolation.

In principle, Yulin Grottoes does not receive tourists and does not promote itself, only conducts research. However, if you go there, you can visit and there will be people to give explanations. The ticket is 40 yuan per person. The scenery is excellent, with an extremely arid desert above and a big river below with the sound of gurgling water.

The Yulin Grottoes are all carved on the vertical cliffs on both sides of the Yulin River Canyon, which are very spectacular, just like the ground cracking. Due to their low fame, the grottoes have been well protected, especially the Xixia murals, whose artistic value exceeds that of the Mogao Grottoes.

Some of the Yulin Grottoes are still under repair, but they have been sealed for many years without being disturbed, so they are relatively well preserved. The murals in the grottoes are very amazing and rich in content, including grand sutra paintings, vivid single Buddha paintings, decorative patterns, and a wide variety of exotic flowers, plants, birds and animals, as well as a certain number of realistic scenes of social life, production, technology, etc. at that time.

Yulin Grottoes, also known as Wanfo Gorge, is one of the famous grottoes in my country. In terms of cave form, content and artistic style, it is very similar to Mogao Grottoes. The content and style of the murals in Yulin Grottoes are inseparable from those in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. It is also called the sister cave of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and is an important part of the Dunhuang Grottoes art system. There are more than 250 colored sculptures and about 5,000 square meters of murals preserved in Yulin Grottoes. Most of the murals were works from the Tang Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty for 800 years.

Yulin Grottoes is also known as Wanfo Gorge. It is not as famous as Mogao Grottoes, but my favorite murals are hidden in this loess valley. The management here seems to be stricter than Mogao Grottoes. We put our cameras in the lockers when we entered the door...

The 43 caves with complete murals here are all stunning, but my favorite are the "Puxian Transformation" and "Manjusri Transformation" painted in Cave 3 during the Western Xia period.

Not from a professional artistic perspective, the exquisite lines of these two sutra paintings are enough to attract my full attention. The pauses, setbacks, lines, changes, and endings of the brushstrokes can all be described as perfect. The coloring is simple, with a small amount of emerald green pigment used for smudges, which is in line with modern aesthetics. Most of the people in the same group were deeply attracted by these two sutra paintings, and they stopped to watch and couldn't leave for a long time. Buddhist believers even worshipped these two sutra paintings.

Later, I saw the "Manjusri Transformation" and "Samantabhadra Transformation" that had been reproduced after strict color management at the Dunhuang Research Institute. Although they were a bit expensive, I couldn't help but buy two and take them home to admire.

The biggest difference between Yulin Grottoes and Mogao Grottoes is that researchers serve as guides. Researchers have a deeper understanding of the caves than guides. Xing Yaolong is a researcher at the Dunhuang Research Institute. He answered all the tricky questions raised by several of his colleagues who are well-versed in murals. His wonderful explanation was appreciated by all of us, and we all went to chat with him after the explanation. I really admire these young college students who can still abandon the prosperity of the world in this era and come to Yulin Grottoes, a very closed and difficult place, and stick to their beliefs.

After the visit, Xing Yaolong locked the door of the cave. Only then did we take out our cameras to take pictures of the exterior of the Yulin Grottoes. The exterior can only explain the hardships of the creators at that time in a small way, and more hardships are now incomprehensible. The ancestors created a huge treasure of art and religion on both sides of the Yulin River Canyon. The charm of it can only be experienced when you come here and go deep into the caves.

I went to Yulin Grottoes today. The surrounding area is under repair and some caves are also under repair. We visited seven caves today. There were professional staff to lead us to explain. It was very good. Taking pictures is not allowed in the caves. The scenery outside is also very good. It is worth a visit. We hired a car today and went to Suoyang City, which is not far away, and then came to Yulin Grottoes. Master Cai was very enthusiastic. He introduced a lot to us along the way and recommended us to see the ruins of Pochengzi on the side of the road. It was also great. You can stop and take pictures on the road. The master waited for us on the side and was not impatient at all. Haha, he kept asking us if we wanted to stop and take pictures, so if you go, I recommend this master: 13993715733

Yulin Grottoes is very far away and needs a detour. It is a niche grotto, but it can be found on the APP, and tourists' reviews are very good. But the road to Yulin Grottoes is really not what most people are willing to take. I remember that we drove on the crossroads for nearly three hours on the day we went there. It was bumpy all the way, there was no signal, and there was no one. It seemed that we entered the no-man's land again. The rented car was scratched several times again, and it was distressed. Fortunately, Yulin Grottoes did not disappoint. Yulin Grottoes is also called Wanfo Cave. There are very few individual tourists in this scenic spot. The team of interpreters in front of us is a student majoring in murals at an art school, so we waited for a long time. The sister who explained to us is very professional and is a researcher who has studied murals. After seeing the murals here, I really feel that it is more worthwhile than Mogao Grottoes, but we did not see the special caves. Friends who have conditions and are interested can see it. It is said that the special caves are particularly great. The tour guide told us that the Yulin Grottoes here are not mainly for tourists to visit, but focus on protection and research, so they are not as famous as the Mogao Grottoes, but the artistic attainments and historical value of the Ten Thousand Buddha Caves are in no way inferior to those of the Mogao Grottoes.

Yulin Grottoes are located in a canyon more than 70 kilometers south of Guazhou County. The caves are carved on the vertical cliffs on the east and west banks. The grottoes are well protected. The content and style of the murals are inseparable from the Mogao Grottoes. They are a branch of a system, so they are called: Yulin Grottoes are the sister grottoes of Mogao Grottoes, but the murals of Yulin Grottoes are more novel and colorful than those of Mogao Grottoes. The guides are very professional and detailed. It is really rewarding and worth seeing. It is a great pity to go to the northwest without visiting Yulin Grottoes. Due to time constraints, I did not see the special grottoes this time. I am a little regretful. I must make up for it when I have the opportunity in the future. By the way, I would like to recommend my chartered car master, Mr. Xie (Tel 13139493043). He has a good service attitude, patience, and is trustworthy. If you want to charter a car to Yulin Grottoes, you can contact him.

I highly recommend it. After visiting Yulin Grottoes, I feel less interested in visiting Mogao Grottoes. Yulin Grottoes is mainly composed of caves from the Western Xia and Yuan dynasties, which is my favorite style. As long as the Special Grottoes are open, you must visit them!!! The Special Grottoes are super beautiful, super beautiful, super beautiful

I highly recommend it to friends who like grottoes. The murals are of high quality. Even if you don't see the special caves, it's still very good. But if you have the conditions, I still recommend seeing the special caves. It's very cost-effective.

Yulin Grottoes, located more than 70 kilometers southeast of Guazhou County, is not publicized, which is why it has always been a little deserted. It is recommended to charter a car to go there. Master Yang 18793761891 has good service. In Yulin Grottoes, research and protection seem to be more important. It is for this reason that many precious murals and sculptures here are preserved almost intact.

In addition to the murals and sculptures themselves, the interpretation here is also in-depth enough.

In Yulin Grottoes, what you can’t imagine is that the people who stay here to give explanations are not tour guides, but researchers who have acquired knowledge of the murals.

Many researchers have settled here to enrich their knowledge, interpret more historical stories, and protect these hard-earned cultural treasures.

Their explanations are serious enough to give people a deeper understanding of the grottoes. They can quote classics, tell the stories in the murals thoroughly, and answer any questions you raise.

In order to see the special caves, I chose to go to Yulin Grottoes in the off-season. The East Thousand Buddha Caves were closed due to road construction. The road to Yulin Grottoes was just repaired in May this year. It takes more than an hour to get from Guazhou Railway Station to Yulin Grottoes one way. When the explanation was given, it was only my companion and I. We enjoyed the VIP treatment of the general caves and four special caves. It took about an hour and a half to see all the special caves. It was very detailed and rewarding. I heard that there are more and more tourists in Yulin Grottoes. If you want to have a good experience, you should come in the off-season. Yulin Grottoes are open all year round except when it rains. I recommend Master Xie's chartered car again: 131-3949-3043. The master is very nice and took us to the Guazhou Museum to see the copied murals of the East Thousand Buddha Caves.

As a tourist attraction, it is not well built, but there are far fewer people than in Mogao Grottoes, the tour guides are more detailed than in Mogao Grottoes, and the caves are well preserved.

Yulin Grottoes are located in Suoyang Town, Guazhou County. The content and style of its murals are inextricably linked to those of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes. It is known as the sister caves of Mogao Grottoes. Because of its low fame, the caves have been well protected, especially the Western Xia murals, whose artistic value exceeds that of Mogao Grottoes. All the caves were excavated on both sides of the Yulin River Canyon. The river valley on the upright cliffs is like a crack in the earth, which is very spectacular. Yulin Grottoes is mainly used for academic research and is of great value. There are also inscriptions by Mr. Zhang Daqian in the caves. Because the journey is long, you must charter a car to go there. By the way, I would like to recommend to you Master Song, who is a very fashionable elder sister. She is very nice and provides very good service. If you have a chartered car, you can contact her: The phone number is 13679396989

Yulin Grottoes are located in Suoyang Town, Guazhou County. They are in a river ditch with clear water and lush willows on the riverside. It has a unique flavor.

This is the best surprise of the trip. It is definitely worth a visit, and the shock it brings far exceeds that of Mogao Grottoes.

Whether in terms of historical value or artistic value, Yulin Grottoes is inferior to Mogao Grottoes. But in terms of the art that tourists can experience, Yulin Grottoes is superior to Mogao Grottoes. In addition, Yulin Grottoes has four special caves that are open to ordinary tourists during the peak season, so I added it to my destination without hesitation.

Unfortunately, the contents of the general caves were not recorded, so the contents of the special caves are presented as follows:

Cave 25 (Mid-Tang) (￥200): The Amitabha Sutra and Maitreya Sutra. These two sutras are large in scale, wonderful in content, and of high artistic value.

Cave 3 (Western Xia) (￥150): Manjusri Transformation, Samantabhadra Transformation (including Xuanzang's Journey to the West), Thousand-armed and Thousand-eyed Avalokitesvara Transformation, and Amitābha Sūtra Transformation (architectural boundary painting). This is my favorite of the three special caves.

Cave 4 (Yuan) (￥100): Tibetan Buddhism, everything is a mystery

As for the special caves, I recommend that people like me who love caves and history can take a look. Friends who are not interested in these should forget about it to avoid disappointment.

A conscientious scenic spot. Comrade guides, please forgive me for saying this, because in their hearts this is not a scenic spot, but a research unit. Indeed, the number of people in each team is reasonably controlled, so that everyone has enough space to stand, and the explanation is vivid, in place, not hurried or slow. It is to share your experience with everyone, not simply memorize the explanation. I saw the special cave No. 3, which is very worthwhile. The murals are in the form of line drawing, and the colors are well preserved. I originally wanted to see the famous Cave 25, but thinking that Mogao Grottoes are Tang Dynasty murals, and it costs 400 yuan for two children, I didn't bear to see it. Now I regret it a little. After all, these murals are rapidly oxidizing, and maybe there will be no more to see in the future. I suggest that if you have enough budget, you can see both of them. I feel that Yulin Grottoes is better than Mogao Grottoes in that there are fewer people, quiet, and you can calm down and look at it. If there are fewer people, you can take the train to Guazhou at 7 o'clock, and you can arrive at 9 o'clock. The ticket price is less than 20 yuan. It costs 200 yuan to charter a car. The newly built road is very easy to walk. I can go back to Guazhou at 3 o'clock and there is a train to Jiayuguan at 4:15.

Free explanation, free bag storage, camera storage (required). There are not many people at the scenic spot at present. Mogao Grottoes Sister Caves are worth recommending. At present, the highway back to Dunhuang is not open. The speed limit along the highway is 60, 60, 60, and there are mobile speed measurement (secretly filmed). It is said that there will be interval speed measurement in the future. It is painful to drive back to Dunhuang by yourself.

The first cave I visited. The guide led us to visit 7 caves randomly, including a reclining Buddha. The guide used a megaphone and explained very seriously. The fees for visiting different caves are different.

Yulin Grottoes--Suoyang City Ruins--Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves

If you want to charter a car, please contact Master Gao. She is warm, considerate, honest and trustworthy, and offers reasonable prices, which will make your journey more relaxing and enjoyable!

Contact number: 18794700155

There is a different world inside the cave, which is wonderful. So many beauties need to be seen with your own eyes. Reading thousands of books is not as good as traveling thousands of miles.

Yulin Grottoes, also known as Wanfo Gorge, is named after the elm trees that form a forest. It is the sister grotto of Mogao Grottoes. In fact, when we were deciding the route, we really struggled for a long time whether to come here. Because I thought that this place was a bit redundant with Mogao Grottoes, and the development was not very complete, and the transportation was not convenient. But fortunately, we insisted on coming, otherwise I think I might regret it for the rest of my life.

In my opinion, this place is completely different from Mogao Grottoes. I heard that Yulin Grottoes is deliberately not promoted too much. It is mainly used for research and is a semi-protected and semi-open scenic spot. Simply put, it is a place where I will welcome you if you come, and I will not invite you if you don't come. Tickets are 40 yuan each and can be bought on Lvmama.

"It was a worthwhile trip" is not enough to describe our feelings. It should be said that it completely exceeded our expectations.

The cave guide quoted classics and told the story from ancient times to the present. He talked about paintings, clothing and makeup, the contrast and collision between Buddhism and Taoism, and the exchange and integration of national cultures. He explained the 18 streets of Mogao Grottoes.

The scenery here is so magnificent that it is beyond words. You can see the Mengke Glacier from afar. The stream water in Yulin Grottoes comes from the meltwater of the glacier and is clear and transparent. The guide said that the staff here drink this glacier water. We washed a few peaches with the stream water and they tasted very sweet. This is also an extremely arid desert protection area, with many Haloxylon ammodendron trees planted. Yes, it is the one in Alipay Ant Forest, which is very green and beautiful.

Although the road back and forth is a bit winding and rugged, the occasional flocks of sheep and the bright and brilliant red willows are all pleasing to the eye. The driver said that it is not yet the season for the red willows to turn completely red, otherwise the entire field of red willows would be such a gorgeous color in the desert.

Yulin Grottoes Ticket 40: (including explanation)

I highly recommend it. It's worth spending a day here. Yulin Grottoes is the sister grotto of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. It is located 100 kilometers east of Dunhuang. It is smaller than Mogao Grottoes, but it is well preserved. It is said that the Xixia murals in it have achieved more artistic achievements than Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang. I don't understand such professional things, but I saw the most beautiful and round "Flying Apsaras" here.

The caves are carved on the cliffs on both sides of the Yulin River Valley. The caves on the east cliff are now open. The waiting time for the explanation is about 40 minutes. There is a small house to store bags and cameras. This is more standardized than the Mogao Grottoes. The tour guide is a researcher from the Dunhuang Research Institute. The one who led our group has been in the Yulin Grottoes for 18 years. In addition to explaining, he also does restoration and other work, which is admirable. No microphone was used when explaining in the caves, saying that the vibration of sound waves would affect the murals; after explaining each cave, he would ask "Is there anything else you don't understand?" He is a true messenger of cultural dissemination. Great!

There are two checkpoints on the way from Dunhuang, where you need to scan your ID card and take your temperature, which is very strict. The master also reminded me to be careful when "singing" and not to be bitten by the marmots. **It is recommended that if you charter a car to Yulin Caves locally, you should tell the master to take the highway. The dirt road is very bumpy and takes more time**

For detailed guide, please see: http://www.mafengwo.cn/i/6495539.html

Many self-driving tourists did not choose Yulin Grottoes because the road was difficult to find and walk. Most of them turned back halfway or chose to go to other places. We also don’t know what belief it is that kept us searching all the way to the end.

There are really few tourists here. The caves are just behind the caves at your feet, and the left and right sides are also spectacular.

Due to the small number of people, we bought tickets and waited for about half an hour. When there were no more tourists, the tour guide finally took us into the cave.

Unlike the Mogao Grottoes, I finally got to see the murals up close, and the paintings and sculptures here are almost intact. From the Sui Dynasty to the present, it has experienced countless natural disasters, wind, frost, rain and snow. Although some of the sculptures in the caves are incomplete, their beauty still stands proudly. Not to mention that most of the statues are intact, so that we who live in 2016 can also feel the life and piety of that year.

Whether in terms of fame or the number of tourists, Yulin Grottoes is obviously inferior to Mogao Grottoes. Compared with the huge crowds of people in Mogao Grottoes, where you are inexplicably drowned in the crowd of spectators, the situation in Yulin Grottoes can be said to be refreshing. Especially after crossing that extremely dry and barren area, facing the oasis valley where Yulin Grottoes is located, listening to the sound of slowly flowing water, it is comfortable!

Because there are no surging crowds, there is only one explanation every 30-40 minutes. Most of the people who give the explanations are professionals - researchers who have been assigned to this place to study murals since graduation from university. Therefore, their explanations are not memorized by heart, but can be said to be flexible. The whole tour lasts for an hour, but even I, a fool who knows nothing about art, can feel that it is a pleasant thing.

Yulin Grottoes! This sky full of yellow earth... But this is the most worthwhile grotto to see. The rest are 5A-level attractions, and only this one is a cultural relic protection unit, which retains the flavor of the year. Moreover, the murals of Yulin Grottoes are more complete in terms of color and composition! The age of Yulin Grottoes ranges from Tang to Qing, spanning the Five Dynasties, Song Dynasty, Huihe, Western Xia, Yuan Dynasty, and Qing Dynasty. It is too complete 👍👍👍 (The road is too difficult to open, and you must have firm faith and willpower to reach it)

Guazhou attractions are far from the city, so you must charter a car. Most Guazhou tours start from Dunhuang, and the cost of a one-day charter is about 500-600 yuan. If there are few people, it is recommended to take a bus to Guazhou and then find a car charter. Yulin Grottoes and Suoyang City are in different directions. It costs about 160-180 yuan to go to Yulin Grottoes alone, and 50 yuan more to add Suoyang City.

The original ecosystem of the mural cave protection area. Compared with the Mogao Grottoes, it is worth visiting. There is no commercial protection and no developed transportation, but here you can feel the scene of the past.

Going to Yulin Grottoes was an accident, but it brought a big surprise. Not to mention the Gobi, oasis, and desert scenery along the way, just the quietness of Yulin Grottoes, the vividness of the murals, and the meticulousness and professionalism of the guides are all worth a thumbs up.

It is worth a visit. It is a sister cave of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, but there are fewer tourists. The explanations are all given by researchers, and the explanations are more detailed and meticulous. Compared with the Mogao Grottoes, the murals in the Yulin Grottoes are more complete and colorful.

This sister cave of Mogao Grottoes is less known to people. Because there are fewer people, it is not as restricted as the Mogao Grottoes. Although it is not comparable in terms of the number and scale of cultural relics, from a purely visiting perspective, there is no less to see than the Mogao Grottoes.

The scenery on the way from Guazhou to Yulin Grottoes is surprising, and along the way, you can see the desert, Gobi, ancient city, and Jiangnan scenery, which makes the long journey to Yulin Grottoes not boring at all.

It is worth a visit. The scenic spot is still under development. Although its scale is not as large as Mogao Grottoes, I heard there are many good things.