Zhengzhou / Gongyi Grottoes

Unlike the Longmen Grottoes, where about 70% of the sculptures date back to the Tang Dynasty, the Gongyi Grottoes are the opposite, with most of the artifacts dating from the Northern Wei Dynasty.

The grottoes themselves are not large, allowing for a leisurely exploration. The grottoes themselves are small yet beautiful, offering a chance to appreciate the traces of history.

My favorite is the "Emperor and Empress's Procession" carved on both sides of one of the grottoes. It's truly hard to imagine how the emperor's procession could be sculpted so realistically. Many grottoes have similar works, but this one is particularly well-preserved.

I also saw a faceless Buddha statue. This is because the continuous warfare at the end of the Northern Wei Dynasty halted the carving work before it was completed, leaving it in its current unfinished state.

Many headless stone Buddha statues were extensively destroyed during the anti-Buddhist movement. Walking among them, I couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy; some things ultimately cannot be preserved. It reminded me to have a more magnanimous heart.

📍Admission Fee: 30 RMB

📍Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00

Post by Lee Lee Sam | Oct 29, 2025