Bingling Temple Grottoes

Bingling Temple Grottoes are a UNESCO-listed series of Buddhist caves cut into a cliff in the Yellow River canyon at Liujiaxia Reservoir, in Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu, China. Carving began around 420 CE and continued across later dynasties, leaving niches, caves and sculptures along the rock face. The best-known figure is a seated Maitreya Buddha about 27 metres tall, carved into the cliff and sheltered by a multi-storey wooden structure. Around it are many smaller caves with clay and stone figures and traces of wall paintings, some of which date to the Northern Wei and Tang periods. The site is notable for its setting as much as its art, because the grottoes are reached by boat across the turquoise reservoir, with sheer red-brown cliffs and rock pinnacles on either side. Most visitors travel from Lanzhou by bus to Yongjing, then take a minibus to the Liujiaxia Dam pier and a boat for about one hour each way. Shared boat seats and private speedboats are available, and fares vary, so visitors should confirm current prices at the pier. Boat service is seasonal, running in the summer and autumn months, and none run in winter, which means the grottoes are effectively accessible only from about May to October. Weather can also stop boats. The visit itself takes a few hours, and guides at the site lead visitors along a walkway to key caves, with some caves closed or opened only by staff. Photography rules vary, and visitors should follow signs inside the caves. The trip from Lanzhou takes about four to five hours in total, so most visitors treat it as a half-day or full-day excursion. Crowds are heaviest in summer and on national holidays, and the cliff-side boardwalk can be busy. Visitors should bring water and sun protection, and should check the boat schedule before setting out.