Yulin Hanging Temple Grottoes

The Yulin Hanging Temple Grottoes in Shaanxi Province are a protected cultural heritage site of Shaanxi.

The Yulin Hanging Temple Grottoes are located on the cliffs of the ruins of the Western Xia Luowu City in Shiyan Di Village, Zhenchuan Town, approximately 55 kilometers south of the city. Bordered by mountains to the southwest and the Wuding River to the east, the site features rugged terrain and stunning scenery. Originally serving as a frontier outpost and defensive barrier of the Western Xia Luowu City, both the Western Xia and the Northern Song dynasties stationed troops here. Later, grottoes were carved and temples constructed on this site. To this day, 11 temple grottoes remain, including the Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave, Sanxiao Hall, Holy Mother’s Palace, Guanyin Hall, and the Hall of the True Martial Patriarch.

Among them, the Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave is the largest in scale and has relatively well-preserved historical relics. Inside the cave, there is a square stone pillar supporting the ceiling. On the front of the pillar, there are two colorful paintings depicting monks and Taoist priests who founded the temple. The other three walls are adorned with exquisite landscape murals. The four walls of the cave feature thousands of Buddha statues, each with unique expressions. At the front of the cave stand five clay sculptures about three meters tall, including a static Buddha, the True Martial Patriarch, and the Holy Mother. This site represents a temple that blends both Buddhist and Taoist elements.

The Hanging Temple was once a refuge for local residents during times of war. Today, stone mills and grinding plates can still be found inside the Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave, and the exterior cliff of the grottoes has multiple carved niches and openings. Additionally, within the temple grounds grows a rare and mysterious tree species whose identity remains unconfirmed. Like the history of the grottoes themselves, this tree has also sparked great interest among visitors and relevant authorities.

Location: West of Shiyan Di Village, Zhenchuan Town, Yulin City, Shaanxi Province

Transportation: Take a bus from downtown Yulin to Zhenchuan Town, then transfer to a minibus to Shiyan Di Village.