Tickets can be booked in advance through the official website of YunGang Grottoes, WeChat official account, or various major travel booking platforms. Understand the applicable people and prices of different ticket types (such as full-price tickets, discounted tickets, etc.).
Pay attention to whether there are combo tickets that include tour guide services or other experience items.
Visit Time
The YunGang Grottoes scenic area is large, and it is recommended to reserve 3 4 hours for the visit so as to fully appreciate the grotto art and surrounding landscapes.
It is best to enter the park in the morning or earlier in the afternoon to avoid the peak period of tourist groups and get a better visiting experience.
Essential Items
Comfortable walking shoes, as a long distance needs to be walked during the visit.
Sun protection products, such as sun hats, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc., especially in summer.
Camera or mobile phone and other photography equipment to record the exquisite carvings of the grottoes.
Transportation Guide
External Transportation
Airplane
You can first arrive at Datong Yungang Airport, and then take the airport shuttle bus or taxi to the YunGang Grottoes scenic area. The airport shuttle bus has corresponding routes to reach the stations near the scenic area in the urban area, and then transfer to a bus or take a taxi to the scenic area.
Train
Get off at Datong Station or Datong South Station. Datong Station is relatively close to the scenic area. After getting off, you can take a bus or taxi to the scenic area; from Datong South Station, you can first take a bus or taxi to the transfer point in the urban area and then go to the scenic area.
Internal Transportation
Bus
There are several bus routes in Datong city that can reach YunGang Grottoes, such as the express tourist bus 603. You can query the specific bus routes and stations through mobile map software.
Self-driving
Starting from the urban area of Datong, you can reach the scenic area along Weidu Avenue, Yungang Road, etc. The scenic area has a parking lot.
Tour Routes
Essential Route
Tanyao Square Worship Buddha Avenue Lingyan Temple (you can stop for a while to appreciate the temple architecture and surrounding scenery) YunGang Grottoes group (focus on visiting Caves 5 and 6. These two caves are double caves with exquisite carvings and rich content in the caves, showing the superb art of YunGang Grottoes; Caves 9 13, known as the “Five Color Caves” because of their gorgeous carvings; and the open-air Buddha in Cave 20, which is the iconic Buddha statue of YunGang Grottoes).
In-depth Route
On the basis of the essential route, add visits to other caves such as Caves 1 4, Caves 14 19, etc. These caves also have their own characteristics and can help you understand the historical and artistic evolution of YunGang Grottoes more comprehensively.
Attraction Introductions
Main Caves
Caves 5 and 6
This group of double caves is grand in scale and magnificent in decoration. The central Buddha in Cave 5 is as high as 17 meters, one of the largest Buddha statues in YunGang Grottoes, and the four walls of the cave are full of carved Buddha niches and statues. Cave 6 is famous for its exquisite carvings. The central pagoda pillar in the cave has two layers, and on both sides of the four large niches, the east, south, and west walls of the cave, and both sides of the bright window, 33 reliefs depicting the Buddha’s life story from birth to enlightenment are carved, with rich content and skilled techniques.
Caves 9 13 (Five Color Caves)
They are named because they were painted with mud and colors in the Qing Dynasty. The Buddha statues and decorations in the caves are brightly colored and exquisitely carved. Among them, Caves 9 and 10 are a group of double caves. The front chambers are carved with many images of musicians and dancers, vividly showing the music and dance art of that time; Cave 12 is called the “Music Cave”, with many carved musical instruments and images of musicians in the cave, like an ancient concert hall; there is a cross-legged Maitreya statue in Cave 13, 13 meters high, with a solemn and majestic image.
Cave 20 (Open-air Buddha)
Because the front wall of the cave collapsed, the main Buddha is exposed in the open air, becoming a landmark landscape of YunGang Grottoes. This Buddha statue is 13.7 meters high, with a full face and broad shoulders, magnificent in shape and of high artistic value. The Buddha wears a right-shoulder kasaya, with thick and smooth clothing lines, showing the typical style of Buddha statue carving in the Northern Wei Dynasty.
Other Attractions
Tanyao Square
It was built to commemorate Tanyao, the founder of YunGang Grottoes. There is a statue of Tanyao on the square, where you can understand the historical background of the excavation of YunGang Grottoes.
Worship Buddha Avenue
On both sides stand 13 pairs of “elephant-riding four-prism divine pillars”, with a magnificent momentum, as if leading tourists into the Buddhist world step by step.
Dining and Shopping
Dining
In the Scenic Area
There are some snack supply points that provide fast food such as hamburgers, noodles, and snacks, where you can replenish energy during the visit.
Sometimes vegetarian meals are also provided in Lingyan Temple, where you can taste special vegetarian cuisine.
Around the Scenic Area
Not far from the scenic area, there are some local restaurants where you can taste Datong’s special cuisine, such as Datong sliced noodles, lamb offal, Shaomai, etc.
Shopping
In the Scenic Area
There are souvenir shops near the exit where you can buy books, picture albums, postcards, and cultural and creative products related to YunGang Grottoes (such as Buddha statue ornaments, replicas of grotto carvings, etc.).
Around the Scenic Area
Some small stalls around also sell handicrafts and souvenirs with Datong local characteristics, which can be purchased appropriately.
Precautions
Obey the regulations of the scenic area. Do not touch or climb the Buddha statues and carvings in the grottoes, and take good care of cultural relics.
Keep quiet when visiting the caves. Do not make loud noises to avoid affecting the visiting experience of other tourists.
Follow the guidance and arrangements of the staff in the scenic area, especially pay attention to safety when there is a large flow of people.
