Guyang Cave

Guyang Cave

Guyang Cave was carved during the Northern Wei Dynasty (493 AD) and has a history of 1,500 years. It is the earliest excavated cave among the Longmen Grottoes’ statues, featuring the richest Buddhist content and the highest level of calligraphic art. It is said to have been commissioned as a merit cave by Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei for his grandmother, Empress Dowager Feng. The cave’s walls and ceiling are covered with over 1,000 niches of various types and more than 800 inscribed stone tablets, making it the grotto with the most preserved inscriptions in China. Nineteen out of the world-famous “Twenty Tablets of Longmen,” masterpieces of Wei stele calligraphy, come from Guyang Cave.

Guyang Cave was carved from a natural limestone cave. The ceiling lacks a lotus-patterned caisson, and the floor is horseshoe-shaped. The main wall features a central Buddha flanked by two bodhisattvas: on the left is Guanyin Bodhisattva holding a precious vase, and on the right is Mahasthamaprapta Bodhisattva holding a mani jewel. The main image is Sakyamuni Buddha, wearing a robe with cascading collars, with a slender face, smiling eyes, and a serene expression, sitting calmly on a square pedestal. The attendants beside the main Buddha display tranquil expressions and composed postures.

Special Tips

The parking lot of the Longmen scenic area is about 800 meters from the ticket office. Visitors who prefer not to walk can take the scenic area’s electric shuttle bus. The fare is 2 yuan per stop, or 10 yuan for the full journey.

Address: Inside the West Hill Grottoes of the Longmen Grottoes Scenic Area, Luolong District, Luoyang City

Type: Historical Site

Recommended Visit Duration: About 1 hour

Opening Hours:

(1) February 1 – March 31: 8:00–17:00, closing at 18:00; (2) April 1 – October 7: 8:00–17:30, closing at 18:30; (3) October 8 – October 31: 8:00–17:00, closing at 18:00; (4) November 1 – January 31: 8:00–16:00, closing at 17:00. (5) Night tour opening hours (West Hill Grottoes & Xiangshan Temple): Open daily from April 8 – May 10. From May 11 – October 11, open every Friday and Saturday (open daily during the National Day Golden Week; closed in case of rain): 17:30–21:00 (last entry at 21:30); lighting time: between 18:30–19:30. Night clearance time: 22:40; lights off at 23:00.

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the general Longmen Grottoes scenic area ticket (120 yuan). Night tour ticket: 120 yuan, includes access to the West Hill Grottoes and Xiangshan Temple.