Longmen Grottoes - one of the three most outstanding cave structures in China, which could be considered as Yungang Caves and Mogao. Caves stretch over 1 km along the Yi River on both sides of it. On the east bank is a large number of small caves, which served as the residence for large groups of monks.

Longmen Grottoes account for about 1,400 caves, they are 100 000 statues of different sizes from 25 mm up to the largest Buddha statue, the size of which is 17 meters in height. Also, there are some 2,500 steles and 60 pagodas. Fifty-largest caves of medium size located on the western slopes, which relate to an earlier period of occurrence compared with caves on the eastern slope.

The abundance of caves, sculptures on the slopes can trap certain changes in the style associated with the time of their creation. On the western slopes abound with carved figures of Buddha statues and religious people, while on the eastern - the figure has already made more difficult, includes images of women, as well as ships. The caves are numbered sequentially from north to south along the western bank of the river Yi.

The largest caves with renowned sculptures and inscriptions: Guang-dong, the work which began in 493, Binyang-dong - 505 years, Lianhua Dong - 520 years, Chico BBC - 520 year Shisku - 520 year Yaofang-dong - 570 year Dzayfu-dong - 636 year Fahya-dong - 650 years, and others.

Guang-dong, or Old Cave of the Sun - it is the oldest cave Lun threaded in the style of the Northern Wei. It is also the longest of the caves located in the central part of the western slope. The cave was carved on the orders of Emperor Xiao Vienna. The earliest carvings in the cave of limestone is now dated to the year 478, when Emperor Xiao Wei moved its capital from Datong to Luoyang. Here you can find the 600 most beautiful calligraphic inscriptions in the Northern Wei style.

In the cave there are 3 very large images. This - the central image of Sakyamuni Buddha with Bodhisattvas on both sides. Quite revealing Northern Wei style, which made these images - thin and emaciated bodies of the saints. Also, in a cave carved about 800 inscriptions on the walls and in the niches, which is a record number in China. Along the cave are two rows of niches, with the north and south sides, which contain a large number of drawings signed by the artist.

For 4 centuries, craftsmen carved in Longmen grottoes more and more statues and reliefs. Alas, during the persecution of Buddhists in the IX. It began the destruction of the monastery and the history. Then his destructive words and said the erosion of soft stone, and the foray of Western collectors, and vandalism of the Red Guards during the "cultural revolution."

Longmen Grottoes - is evidence of creativity of Buddhist art. They are to this day preserved more than 2100 Kyoto, 43 pagodas, more than 100 thousand images of saints, 3,600 inscriptions on stone.