Atlas of China
Gongyi Grottoes 巩县石窟Gǒngxiàn Shíkū
National heritage site · Zhengzhou, Henan
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Zhengzhou
- Region
- Henan
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- National heritage site
About Gongyi Grottoes
A Buddhist cave temple cut into the foot of Mount Dali on the north bank of the Yiluo River, begun under the Northern Wei around AD 500 and added to until the Song. Its five caves, most with a carved central pillar, hold some 7,700 figures, and three of them have relief processions of an emperor and empress with their courts. A Qing-dynasty hall survives from the temple in front of the caves.
How to get to Gongyi Grottoes
In Siwan village, Heluo town, about 10 km north-east of central Gongyi and roughly 1.5 hours by road west of Zhengzhou.
Nearby
- Shaolin Temple 少林寺 30 km
The cradle of Chan Buddhism and kung fu, at the foot of Mount Song - White Horse Temple 白马寺 40 km
China's first Buddhist temple, with Thai, Indian and Burmese halls beside it - Longmen Grottoes 龙门石窟 60 km
Some 100,000 Buddhas carved into riverside cliffs, watched over by a serene giant - Henan Museum 河南博物院 60 km
Zhengzhou's treasure house of Central Plains bronzes, jades and Neolithic finds
Also within 20 km: Du Fu's Birthplace 杜甫故里 (under 10 km), Northern Song Imperial Tombs 宋陵 (under 10 km), Kang Baiwan Manor 康百万庄园 (under 10 km), Jiulong Temple, Yanshi 偃师九龙庙 (10 km), Mixue Daka International Tea-Drink Dream Factory 蜜雪集团·大咖国际茶饮梦工厂 (20 km), Stele of Huisheng Palace 会圣宫碑 (20 km).
On the map
Open Gongyi Grottoes on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it and what else is close, and to add it to a trip.
Open Gongyi Grottoes on the map