The Yungang Grottoes with an entrance fee of 120 yuan are such a great value!

After the Northern Wei Dynasty made Datong its capital, due to the rulers' reverence for Buddhism, many temples were built, and the grottoes were extensively excavated. The main part of the Yungang Grottoes was completed before the Northern Wei moved its capital to Luoyang. The grottoes are carved into the mountain and stretch for 1 kilometer from east to west. The statues range from as tall as 17 meters to as small as 2 centimeters, with approximately 1,100 niches and over 59,000 figures of various sizes. 🌟 Highlights: Listed as a World Heritage Site, one of the first batch of key cultural relics protection units in China, one of the first batch of national 5A-level tourist attractions, and one of the four major grottoes. 🪷 Tour Route: Tan Yao Square ➡️ Buddha's Light Avenue ➡️ Worshiping Buddha Relief Wall ➡️ Lingyan Temple ➡️ Grottoes Cluster ➡️ Food Street 1️⃣ Tan Yao Square: Built to commemorate Tan Yao, the founder of the Yungang Grottoes, the square features a statue of the high monk Tan Yao at its center. 2️⃣ Buddha's Light Avenue: Buddha's Light Avenue is a three-dimensional sculpture art gallery, with blooming lotus carvings on the ground and 13 pairs of 'Elephants Carrying Pagodas' statues on both sides. The statues are inspired by the sculptures from the middle period of the Yungang Grottoes and incorporate many cultural elements from the grottoes. The base relief depicts a group of Northern Wei donors dressed in Xianbei attire. 3️⃣ Worshiping Buddha Relief Wall: Walking west through the forest of sacred pillars on Buddha's Light Avenue, you will find two fan-shaped royal Worshiping Buddha relief walls facing each other, with a Bodhi tree in the middle, adorned with prayer plaques from visitors. 4️⃣ Lingyan Temple: Moving forward, you will arrive at Lingyan Temple, located in the center of the lake island within the Yungang Grottoes scenic area. The entire temple consists of three courtyards and is built according to the description by the famous Northern Wei geographer Li Daoyuan in his 'Commentary on the Water Classic'. 5️⃣ Grottoes Cluster: Since the grottoes are built along the mountain, you can simply follow the same direction to visit them all. Some of the smaller Buddha statues in the caves have been eroded by weather over the years and are somewhat indistinct, but the larger statues are still relatively well-preserved. A must-visit spot: Cave 20, which is the only cave with an exposed Buddha statue and is also the symbol of the Yungang Grottoes. 6️⃣ Food Street: An obligatory path at the exit, offering Datong's local specialties and some craft souvenirs. Compared to many other scenic areas, I found that the prices of cultural and creative products in Datong are very reasonable. Don't miss out on the coal gangue crafts. 7️⃣ Others: If you have enough time, consider visiting the Yungang Art Gallery, Yungang History Museum, and Yungang Museum. 🚗 Transportation: There are tourist buses from Datong city to the Yungang Grottoes, or you can drive there. If you go during holidays, the last few kilometers can be very congested. If driving, there's no need to go all the way into the scenic area; we parked our car on a small road outside a nearby residential area and then walked across the bridge to the entrance of the grottoes. 🎫 Ticket: 120 yuan (full price for adults, with half-price discounts for special groups) Honestly, for such a large scenic area with so many small attractions, this ticket price is really conscientious. 📌 Tips: If you want to avoid crowds, it's recommended not to sleep in and to start your trip early in the morning.