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:

20 Nov 2023World Childrens Day
3 Jan 2024J.R.R. Tolkien Day
9 Nov 2023Birch trees, Drammen, Norway
Where the humpback whale sings
Southern tip of a northern isle
16 Sep 2025Nighttime view over the Gulf Coast
24 Sep 2025Devils Tower National Monument, Wyoming, United States
Butterfly, fly away
2 Jul 2024Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival
Celebrating the Scottish bard
13 Apr 2025Songkran—Thai New Year
1 Mar 2024Saint Davids Day
24 Oct 2023Füzér Castle in the Zemplén Mountains, Hungary
10 Oct 2023Mount Sopris, Colorado, USA
8 Oct 2024World Octopus Day
17 Mar 2024Saint Patricks Day
17 May 2025A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy
15 Jul 2024Marine Day, Japan
Alpine grandeur
28 May 2024The Monastery of Roussanou, Greece
14 Aug 2024World Lizard Day
13 Feb 2024Pancake Day
3 Feb 2025Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire, England
23 Sep 2025Keel-billed toucan, Costa Rica
6 Feb 2024Lake Tahoe, USA
5 Aug 2025Tide pools in La Jolla, California, United States
30 Jul 2024Friendship Day
A scented sea of purple
27 Aug 2025World Lake Day
17 Feb 2024Jorvik Viking Festival