Qiyanshan Cliff Carvings

Qiyanshan Cliff Carvings

The Qiyanshan Cliff Carvings are a cultural relic protection unit of Xinzhou City.

The Qiyanshan Cliff Carvings are located about 1,000 meters southeast of Huangchangyu Village, Nanwang Township, Dingxiang County. Situated on the cliff faces on both sides of a gully, there are a total of nine surviving cliff carvings and caves from the Eastern Wei, Northern Qi, and Tang dynasties. Among them, there are five caves and four cliff carvings, comprising more than 1,200 Buddhist statues of various sizes, covering an area of approximately 27 square meters. According to the *Dingxiang Epigraphy Chronicles*, the earliest carvings and inscriptions date back to the second year of Shenjue during the Northern Wei Dynasty (519), but none of these survive today. The earliest surviving cliff carvings and inscriptions are from the third year of Tianping during the Eastern Wei Dynasty (536), engraved by the monk Huiduan and others. There are also carvings and inscriptions from the seventh year of Tianbao during the Northern Qi Dynasty (556), erected by Zhao Langnu, the magistrate of Guangwu, and others, as well as carvings and inscriptions from the second year of Xiantian during the Tang Dynasty (713). The caves are mainly Buddha halls and meditation chambers, with carving subjects including Seven Buddhas, Thousand Buddhas, and Nirvana images. In 2007, they were designated as municipal-level cultural relics protection units by the People’s Government of Xinzhou City. Content excerpted from *A Collection of Cultural Relics in Xinzhou*.

Huangchangyu Village: Huangchangyu Village is located in the eastern part of Nanwang Township, Dingxiang County, about 10 kilometers from the county seat. The village has 96 farming households, a population of 201, and 130 laborers. It has 773 mu of arable land, which consists of hilly terrain. The village's main source of income is agriculture, primarily corn cultivation. The village has 2 kilometers of hardened roads, one permanent waste disposal site, and 100 planted ornamental trees. There is a two-story elementary school, a village health clinic, and the reconstruction of the village activity center has been completed. The renowned Qiyanshengmu Shrine is located in Qiyangou to the south of the village, attracting 30,000 visitors annually who come specifically to see it... More detailed information about Huangchangyu Village++