Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China 11 Feb 2025

Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China

What do 51,000 ancient statues have in common? They all call the Yungang Grottoes in China home! This masterpiece of early Buddhist art is near Datong in Shanxi province, northeastern China. Carved into sandstone cliffs over 1,500 years ago during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534/535 CE), the grottoes contain 254 caves. The highlight is the massive Buddha in Cave 5, which is over 15 metres tall. But don"t stop there—each cave offers something unique. Some are like ancient storyboards, depicting tales from Buddhist scriptures, while others showcase detailed carvings of monks, deities, musicians and even scenes of daily life under Wei rule.

© Eric Yang/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A sky full of stars
11 Feb 2024Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Fragrant fields
16 Apr 2025Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
14 Jan 2024Whooper swans
A Balearic islet
13 Jan 2024Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii, USA
1 Jan 2024Happy New Year!
15 Jan 2024Pont Alexandre III, Paris, France
Wise guys
23 Oct 2024Madame Sherri Forest, New Hampshire, United States
19 Sep 2025Thousand Islands region, St Lawrence River, USA-Canada border
3 Sep 2025St Barbaras Cathedral, Kutná Hora, Czechia
10 Nov 2023Badlands National Park, South Dakota, USA
20 Oct 2023International Sloth Day
6 Mar 2024Wahclella Falls, Oregon, USA
25 Aug 2025Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming, United States
31 Jul 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States
16 Jan 2024Lake Louise, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada
20 Nov 2025World in Progress by artist Saype in Geneva, Switzerland
Remembering D-Day
Ludlow aglow
21 Aug 2025Wheatear, Peak District National Park, England
26 Sep 2025Least chipmunk, Kootenai National Forest, Montana, United States
Time to make an impression
14 Aug 2025Cable car station on Piz Nair mountain, Graubünden, Switzerland
11 Sep 2025Gdańsk on the banks of the Motława river, Poland
6 Jun 2024The 80th anniversary of D-Day
21 Mar 2025Happy International Day of Forests!
An iridescent view
The Old Bridge, reborn
31 May 2024Gunnerside, Yorkshire Dales National Park, England