Yungang Grottoes Cave 5 (Maitreya Cave)

Yungang Grottoes Cave 5 (Maitreya Cave)

Yungang Grottoes Cave 5 (Maitreya Cave) is a cultural tourism attraction.

Cave 5, also known as the Maitreya Cave, was carved around the Taihe era (470–494 AD) during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. It is one of the more mature caves from the middle period of the Yungang Grottoes. This cave was funded by imperial investment. Cave 5 currently houses over 2,300 statues of various sizes, all exquisitely carved, and is one of the better-preserved caves in the Yungang Grottoes. The cave features an exceptionally large spatial scale and massive Buddha statues. The overall layout of the cave is elliptical, with a domed ceiling. The main arrangement consists of the Buddhas of the Three Ages, among which the central statue of Sakyamuni, standing at 17 meters tall, is the tallest among the tens of thousands of stone Buddhas in Yungang, earning it the title of the “Crown of Ten Thousand Buddhas” in the grottoes—as described by the Yuan Dynasty poet Wang Du: “Lofty peaks and towering pavilions rival the heavens, looking down upon the mortal world from on high.” It is said that this Buddha was carved by Emperor Xiaowen in honor of his father, Emperor Xianwen Tuoba Hong. Behind the seated Buddha is a prayer corridor. The standing Buddha on the western wall wears a cross-collar robe and makes the fearlessness gesture with its right hand. With delicate features, slender eyebrows, a high nose, deep-set eyes, and a slightly upturned mouth, the statue has a kind and amiable expression. This figure was later retouched, but its original appearance was revealed in 1977 when the outer layers of plaster were removed during restoration.

Address: Yungang Grottoes Scenic Area, Datong City, Shanxi Province

Type: Historical Site / Sculpture / World Cultural Heritage

Rating: AAAAA

Recommended Visiting Time: 20–40 hours

Phone: 0352-3029625

Official Website: http://www.yungang.org/

Opening Hours:

Monday–Sunday 8:30–17:30 (April 1 – October 15); 8:30–16:50 (October 16 – March 31)

Ticket Information:

No separate ticket required. Included in the Yungang Grottoes admission fee.