Yungang Grottoes: It's like entering a paradise

Yungang Grottoes: It's like entering a paradise | A brief lesson before the tour||Once you look up upon entering the cave, you are greeted by a succession of divine Buddhas sitting in the sky, looking down with compassion. At that moment, it feels as if you've entered a paradise. The statues of the Buddhas are so vividly carved, and the color painting still carries the mysterious colors of Buddhism. Even if you have seen them in books or documentaries, being there in person is still deeply shocking. This shock is also a perfect embodiment of the concept of 'the sublime' as mentioned in the history of Western aesthetics. When one steps into the cave and looks up, there is a feeling of awe at something grand. Such immense objects give one a spiritual shock and upliftment. No wonder monks chose to carve out grottoes for meditation, as it's easier to 'see Buddha' and enter a state of deep concentration. —————————————————————— The Yungang Grottoes are really impressive. Although I have been to the Longmen Grottoes before, the preservation of the colored paintings in Yungang is more intact, so the overall visual impact is somewhat more stunning. I recommend setting aside about 3 hours for the visit, and you should buy a ticket for the electric cart, as the entrance to the grottoes is quite far. You can go directly to Cave 5 and play all the way to Caves 16-20, which covers all the highlights and is a more time and energy-saving route. Finally, to clarify, photography is allowed inside the grottoes, but the use of flash is strictly prohibited. Both security and guides will mention this, so pay attention to your phone settings.