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Bingling Temple Grottoes

Introducing Bingling Temple Grottoes (from wikipedia)
The Bingling Temple is a series of grottoes filled with Buddhist sculpture carved into natural caves and caverns in a canyon along the Yellow River. The caves were a work in progress for more than a millennium. The first grotto was begun around 420 CE at the end of the Western Qin kingdom. Work continued and more grottoes were added during the Wei, Sui, Tang, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The style of each grotto can easily be connected to the typical artwork from its corresponding dynasty. The Bingling Temple is both stylistically and geographically a midpoint between the monumental Buddhas of Bamiyan in Afghanistan and the Buddhist Grottoes of central China, Yungang Grottoes near Datong and Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang.

Bingling Temple Grottoes Fast Facts
• Chinese Name: Bing Ling Si Shi Ku 炳灵寺石窟
• Best Time to Visit: May, Jun, Sept & Oct
• Recommended Visiting Hours: About 2 hours
• Type: World Heritage Site, Buddhism, Grottoes
• Opening Hours: 08:30-16:00
• Entrance Fee: CNY 50; CNY 300 for caves No. 169 and No. 172
• Address: Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province

What UNESCO says of Bingling Temple Grottoes
Bingling Cave-Temple Complex, continuously carved from 4th century AD to 10th century AD, are the caves with earliest history dating inscription along the Yellow River on the Silk Roads with construction year inscribed. The Buddhist art at Bingling Cave-Temple Complex reflects multiple influences from the West, South China and Central China as the temple was located at a transport node. The caves built in the Sixteen Kingdoms and the Northern Dynasty period (4th century AD-6th century AD) embody influences from figure of Kasmira monk Dharma-priya, Amitayus Buddha popular at that time in South China and images in Saddharmapundarika Sutra in Chang’an. The influence of Tibetan Buddhism is observed through a large number of Ming Dynasty murals. Niche 6 of Cave169 preserves the earliest ever found clear dating inscription (420 AD) in Buddhist cave-temples in China. Hence the statues and murals in Cave 169 become benchmarks for Central China and Northern China Buddhist caves study. As the earliest Buddhist cave temple on the transitional zones between Hosi Corridor and Central China, it bears exceptional testimony to the early period of Buddhism transmission in China.

What to expect at Bingling Temple Grottoes
The Bingling Temple Grottoes consist of 27-meter high Cliffside Great Buddha Cave (No. 171 cave, 27 meters high) of Tang Dynasty on the north of the cliff, and many medium and small caves. There are 185 nominated caves, 776 statues, and murals of 912 square meters. There are 4 caves of Western Qin Dynasty, 40 caves of Northern Wei and Norther Zhou Dynasties, 138 caves of Sui and Tang dynasties, 3 caves of Ming Dynasty and 62 inscriptions. The Cave Statues and Buddha images in murals of Western Qin Dynasty (4th century AD to 5th century AD), represented by Cave 169, reflect the influence of Indian Gandhara and Mathura art under “Liangzhou Style” transmitted by Kucha caves. Meanwhile, the caves also embrace the stone carvings of Han and Jin Dynasties in Central China to exemplify the characteristics of the preliminary combination of Chinese and Western art. Murals of the same time, especially donator’s images, reflect Southern Dynasties artistic characters. Statues and murals in Cave 125 and 126 of Northern Wei Dynasty created in late 5th century embody the artistic feature of “slim-figure, delicate-face, loose-fitting-gown, wide-girdle” popular in Central China to become masterpieces of Chinese early Buddhist art. The many caves carved after 6th century mark the climax of Bingling Temple Grottoes. The Buddhist statues grow to be plump and well-proportioned, which agrees with the artistic style of Central China in Sui and Tang Dynasties. As the transport node in the border area which was contested by different regimes, Bingling Cave-Temple Complex, compared with other Buddhist caves, contain more historic information reflecting the relationship between different ethnic groups along the Silk Roads. The caves reflecting the relationship between Tang Dynasty and Ancient Tibet, and the Tibetan words and Tangut inscriptions in later caves witnessed the many national regimes in Hosi region and their culture and arts activities in history. Bingling Temple Grottoes were occupied by Tibetans after 8th century. Inscription by Zhang Chujin in 678 AD (the third year of Yifeng period in Tang Dynasty) in upper Cave 64, and “Lingyan Temple Inscription” in the right side of Cave 148 recorded in detail the prosperity of Bingling Temple Grottoes and relationship between Tang Dynasty and Ancient Tibetan Empire, as historical witness of the interchange of Han and Tibetan people during Tang Dynasty. Tangut inscriptions to the south of Cave 168 and in Cave 8 bear witness to the activities of Tangut people in Western Xia regime (early 11th century AD). After the Yuan Dynasty (12th century), Tibetan Buddhism was popular in the region. Tibetan Buddhist remains of Yuan and Ming dynasties include statues in Cave 70, murals in Cave 3 and Tibetan inscriptions near Cave 134.

How to get to Bingling Temple Grottoes
• Bingling Temple Grottoes are approximately 200km away from Lanzhou.
• Take a bus from Lanzhou West Bus Station to Liujiaxia Dam (2-3 hours), and then take a boat to the caves.
• Rent a car/bus from GGC to enjoy a hassle free private transfer from hotels in Lanzhou to Liujiaxia.

Additional travel advice on Bingling Temple Grottoes
• The site can only be reached during summer and fall by boat via the Liujiaxia Reservoir.
• There are two kinds of boats available at Liujiaxia Dam Pier. The normal boat takes 2-3 hours and the speedboat takes 1 hour to the grottoes.
• Only round-trip boat tickets are available. Visitors are usually only left 1.5 hours to visit the grottoes in order to catch the returning boat. Please schedule your time properly.

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