Longmen Grottoes

Some of the larger-than-life stone carvings and inscriptions of the Longmen Grottoes were created as early as the 5th century. At the initial request of Emperor Xiaowen, hundreds of artists painstakingly chiseled signs of their commitment into the rocky walls, devoted to venerating Buddha. Over the centuries, they produced thousands of statues, caves, dagobas, and more. The Fengxian Temple, in the biggest grotto, is particularly well-know for the statue of Vairocana Buddha. He is almost 60 feet tall, even while sitting cross-legged.