Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China Feb 11, 2025

Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China

What do 51,000 ancient statues have in common? They all call the Yungang Grottoes in China home! This masterpiece of early Buddhist art is near Datong in Shanxi province, northeastern China. Carved into sandstone cliffs over 1,500 years ago during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534/535 CE), the grottoes contain 254 caves. The highlight is the massive Buddha in Cave 5, which is a jaw-dropping 17 metres tall. But don"t stop there—each cave offers something unique. Some are like ancient storyboards, depicting tales from Buddhist scriptures, while others showcase detailed carvings of monks, deities, musician and even scenes of daily life under Wei rule.

© Eric Yang/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Feb 11, 2026Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California, USA

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Dec 21, 2025Dawn light through frosty trees, Sweden
Apr 5, 2025Gaztelugatxe islet at sunset, Basque Country, Spain
Feb 5, 2026Salt evaporation ponds on the island of Gozo, Malta
Jun 3, 2024Bicycles in Copenhagen, Denmark
Apr 13, 2024Apple trees in spring, Germany
Jan 12, 2025Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Oct 29, 2023Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia, USA
Aug 8, 2026Ah Shi Sle Pah Wilderness, New Mexico, USA
Feb 17, 2024The Pragser Wildsee in the Dolomites, Italy
Mar 12, 2025Château de Sully-sur-Loire, Centre-Val de Loire, France
Jan 21, 2024Eurasian red squirrel
Aug 20, 2024Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
Jan 17, 2025Brown pelican, San Diego, California, United States
Nov 23, 2023Teide National Park, Tenerife, Canary Islands
Nov 10, 2024Caribbean flamingos, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Jan 23, 2025Deer Valley at dusk, Park City, Utah, United States
Mar 10, 2025Lion, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda
Apr 6, 2025The Shard, London, England
Jun 8, 2025Steller sea lions
Aug 4, 2024Impala and red-billed oxpecker, South Africa
May 13, 2026Arch and Milky Way, Alabama Hills, Sierra Nevada, California, USA
Sep 17, 2023Cuban tody, Alejandro de Humboldt National Park, Cuba
Nov 1, 2025Bison, Yellowstone National Park
Oct 17, 2024Kochia, Hitachi, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan
Jan 14, 2026Fortress of Palamidi, Nafplio, Greece
June 15, 2026Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, United States
Oct 25, 2026Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, Canada
Jul 8, 2025Seceda, Dolomites, South Tyrol, Italy
Mar 14, 2025Dolmen of Sorginetxe, Spain
Jun 1, 2024Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden, Brazil