Shigong Temple

　　The exquisitely carved Shigong Temple Grottoes are renowned across northwest China for their long history and precious cultural heritage. They are located in Ban Chuan Village, Shangguan Township, Huating County, 83 kilometers south of Pingliang City. The grottoes are situated on the north-facing cliffs of a mountainside, facing Longmen Cave — a famous Taoist mountain in China — across the Shangguan River, a tributary of the ?F River. The cave complex was carved into yellow sandstone cliffs about 5 to 10 meters above the ground. There are currently 14 cave niches remaining. Among them, the two large caves, No. 2 and No. 6, are each about 10 meters wide and contain remnants of some statues as well as dozens of statues of donors, guardians, and warriors on either side of the doors and windows on the southern wall. The main statues in No. 1 Cave were unfortunately destroyed in an early landslide. The other 11 caves are medium to small-sized niches, ranging from 0.5 to 2.5 meters, and are relatively well-preserved. In terms of carving artistry, Cave No. 11 stands out as the most exquisite. It is located at the center of the cave complex, with four groups of eight flying apsaras on the ceiling, depicted as gracefully soaring figures that seem to descend from the heavens. The donor statues on the southern wall are remarkably lifelike. Notably, Caves 7 and 8 feature carvings of Shakyamuni and Prabhutaratna Buddhas sitting opposite each other in preaching poses, along with scenes from Buddhist stories. These carvings are even more graceful and moving, and their artistic achievement is comparable to that of the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi — the largest carving art treasury of China from the Northern and Southern Dynasties period.