Introduction: UNESCO added the Longmen Grottoes to the World Heritage list in 2000. The site is also honored as one of the three most famous Buddist grottoes in China. It lies on the bank of the Yishui River, 6 kilometers south of Luoyang. Thousands of statues and niches were carved in caves along the river. The grottoes were originally built in 493 AD. Since then, Longmen Grottoes has expanded and renovated, while more niches, Buddha statues and tablets of inscriptions have been added through various dynasties. Now there are more than 2,300 niches, 100,000 Buddha statues and 2,800 tablets of inscriptions here, which rank it the first one in terms of the number of art works. There are many masterpieces among its calligraphic inscriptions, which some estimate date back to the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Location: Luoyang, Henan

Ticket Price: 120 yuan for adults, 60 yuan for children

Opening time: 7:30 am -6:30 pm