Binglingsi Grottoes

"Bingling" means "thousand Buddhas" or "ten-thousand Buddhas" in the Tibetan language. The Binglingsi Grottoes are cut on steep cliffs along the Yellow River, about 2 km long in a honeycomb pattern. There are now nearly 800 sculptures in stone, clay and clay-covered stone and 900 sq. m of murals preserved in 183 cases. These sculptures can be dated back over 1,600 years. They rank among the three best groups of grottoes in Gansu and among the top ten treasure houses of cave art in China.

Cave No.170 houses the largest Buddhist statue, 27 meters high, with its upper body carved into the cliff and lower body made of clay. The statue seated cross-legged in meditation on a pedestal with the right hand resting on the lap and the left hand on the abdomen It was sculptured in the 19th year of Dezong Reign of the Tang Dynasty (803).

Grotto No.169 is the tallest one carved within a natural cave 8 meters deep, 26 meters wide and 18 meters high, the shape of which is similar to that of the opposite mountain rang across the river. The walls of the grotto are covered with niches, only 24 of which still exist, enshrining 19 stone statues and 39 clay figures. The grotto also houses the largest mural in Binglingsi, which is still bright and beautiful in color.

The other interesting part about these caves is that despite the thousands of years, the murals are still vividly colored and preserved. Apparently this is because the paint is made by crushing up rocks and metals from the river and mixing it with animal blood. Pretty smart way to make paint.


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