Park of China
Overview
| Name | Gongyi Grottoes 巩义石窟寺 |
| Web address | https://parkofchina.com/en/gongyishiku.html |
| Designation | Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (second batch, 1982, as the Gongxian Grottoes) |
| Province | Henan |
| Location | Heluo Town, Gongyi, Zhengzhou, Henan; on the north bank of the Yiluo River |
| Latitude, longitude | 34.81, 113.02 Google Maps |
| Highlights | Northern Wei cave temples, reliefs of emperor and empress worshipping the Buddha |
| Top sights | Processions of emperor and empress in Caves 1, 3 and 4; central-pillar caves; large cliff figures |
| Nearby cities | Zhengzhou, Luoyang |
| Nearby sites | Northern Song Imperial Tombs, Shaolin Temple, Mount Song, Longmen Grottoes, Luoyang, Mount Yuntai (Henan), Yin Xu, Anyang |
| Themes | Grotto, Buddha, Statue, Culture |
About
The Gongyi Grottoes, also called the Gongxian Grottoes, are in Heluo Town, Gongyi, Zhengzhou, Henan, at the southern foot of Mount Dali on the north bank of the Yiluo River, not far from where it flows into the Yellow River. After the Northern Wei moved its capital to Luoyang, the Xixuan Temple was founded here and caves were cut into the cliff; the Eastern Wei, Western Wei and Northern Qi, and later the Tang and Song, added many more niches. It is a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (second batch).
The site is small: five caves, three large cliff figures and one thousand-Buddha niche, with more than 7,700 figures large and small, in a style closely related to the contemporary Longmen Grottoes. The large caves are central-pillar caves: a square pillar is left standing in the middle, with niches and figures on all four sides, so that worshippers could walk around it. The Buddhas have slender faces and layered drapery, typical of the “lean figures” of the late Northern Wei.
Most famous are the reliefs of the emperor and empress worshipping the Buddha on either side of the entrances of Caves 1, 3 and 4: each leads a train of attendants carrying censers and canopies in a long procession, the figures overlapping and their sashes flowing. The two such reliefs in the Middle Binyang Cave at Longmen were cut out in the 1930s and sold abroad, so the Gongyi reliefs are the most complete of their kind left in China.
The carved ceilings, and the musicians and guardian kings along the lower walls, are also very fine, and are an important source for Northern Wei sculpture, dress and Buddhist ritual.
Travel tips
Getting there: the grottoes are about ten kilometres north-east of Gongyi city, easiest reached by car or taxi. Gongyi has a high-speed station, Gongyi South, under an hour from Zhengzhou or Luoyang.
Visiting: the site is small and takes an hour or two; the caves are fairly dark inside. It fits in the same day as the Northern Song Imperial Tombs south of the city.
Map
Nearby
| World Heritage | Shaolin Temple 35km, Mount Song 37km, Site of Luoyang City from the Eastern Han to Northern Wei Dynasty 38km, Taishi Que and Zhongyue Temple 40km |
| National parks | Mount Shennong 47km, Zhengzhou Yellow River 48km, Qingtian River 57km, Mount Wangwu–Mount Yuntai Scenic Area 57km |
| Detailed guides | Northern Song Imperial Tombs 9km, Mount Wangwu 79km, Wangmang Ridge 109km |
| AAAAA attractions | Mount Yuntai (Henan) 75km, Baoquan Tourist Area 83km, Huangcheng Xiangfu Ecological and Cultural Tourist Area 88km, Longtan Grand Canyon Scenic Area 95km |
| AAAA attractions | Kang Baiwan Manor 9km, Chenjiagou 19km, Red Stone Forest 34km, Erlitou Xia Capital Site Museum 34km |
| UNESCO Global Geoparks | Wangwushan-Daimeishan UNESCO Global Geopark 79km |
| Historic cities | Luoyang 56km, Zhengzhou 59km |
| Cities | Zhengzhou 53km, Luoyang 58km, Kaifeng 117km |
| Historical sites | Liu Zhenhua Manor 3km, Huadizui Site 4km, Huangye Tricolor Kiln Site 5km, Jiulong Temple in Yanshi 14km |
| National geoparks | Songshan Stratigraphic Structure National Geopark 37km, Guanshan National Geopark 97km, Yaoshan National Geopark 141km |
| Nature reserves | Danjiang Wetland National Nature Reserve 24km, Yangcheng Manghe Macaque National Nature Reserve 72km, Lishan National Nature Reserve 116km |
| Historic towns | Guxing Town 47km |