Yangtou Mountain Grottoes

Yangtou Mountain Grottoes

The Yangtou Mountain Grottoes are a National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit.

Yangtou Mountain Grottoes (Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units)

Era: Northern and Southern Dynasties to Tang Dynasty

Address: Southern foothills of Yangtou Mountain, 17 kilometers northeast of Gaoping City

Yangtou Mountain, also known as Shouyang Mountain, is described as “a ridge dividing two commanderies, its foothills spanning three counties, towering over a thousand zhang, and stretching for dozens of li.” It lies at the junction of the two commanderies of Lu and Ze, and the three counties/cities of Zhangzi, Changzhi, and Gaoping. Legend has it that this is where Shennong discovered the auspicious grain. Yangtou Mountain was a major site for Buddhist activities, with temples and grottoes clustered across the mountain. At the foot of the mountain lies Zhongqinghua Temple, also known as Lotus Pond or Liuming Temple. Halfway up the mountain is Shangqinghua Temple, which no longer exists, though its ruins can still be seen, including Tang Dynasty foundations and three stone Buddha statues, indicating its once grand scale.

From halfway up the mountain to the summit, there are more than 40 caves carved into large sandstone formations. The caves vary in size, mostly square in plan, typically one cave per rock, though some rocks contain two or three caves. Among them, Cave 6 is the largest. The cave interiors feature neatly arranged niches, with Buddha statues covering all four sides—either a single Buddha with two disciples or a single Buddha with two bodhisattvas. Outside the caves are numerous smaller niches housing Buddhas, bodhisattvas, heavenly kings, guardian warriors, and donors, all with diverse designs and exquisite carvings. Additionally, from halfway up the mountain to the summit, there is a Thousand Buddha stele and six Tang-style stone pagodas, ranging from about 4 to 6 meters in height. The four-sided pagoda at the summit has a unique design, built during the Northern Wei Dynasty, with a kneeling sheep as its pedestal. The Yangtou Mountain Grottoes were carved between the Northern Wei and Tang Dynasties. The “Sunset at Yangtou” is one of the Eight Scenic Spots of Gaoping.

Further Reading:

· Sixth Batch of National Key Cultural Relics Protection Units