Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China Feb 11, 2025

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:

Feb 22, 2025Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, United States
Mar 22, 2024Blue Spring, Te Waihou Walkway, New Zealand
Dec 3, 2025Sandhill cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, United States
Jan 23, 2026Þorrablót, Icelandic midwinter festival
Jan 8, 2024Bernina Pass, Graubünden, Switzerland
Jan 15, 2026The fishing village of Reine, Norway
Jul 31, 2025Kalalau Beach on the Nā Pali Coast, Kauai, Hawaii, United States
July 26, 2026Red mangrove in the Pig Keys, Honduras
July 16, 2026Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, United States
Apr 6, 2025The Shard, London, England
Jul 19, 2025Luna moth
Feb 18, 2026Przewalskis horses
Apr 26, 2026Pink apple blossoms, Avila Beach, California, USA
May 6, 2025An ultralight aircraft flying over the sands of Namibia
Nov 20, 2024Pont de pierre, Bordeaux, France
Apr 10, 2025Red fox cubs near their den
Sep 12, 2025Spinner dolphin pod
Oct 21, 2023Persepolis, Iran
Mar 29, 2025Superbloom in Carrizo Plain National Monument, California, United States
Sep 6, 2024Glenariff Forest Park, Northern Ireland, UK
Nov 2, 2025Maple and bamboo forests in Arashiyama, Kyoto, Japan
Apr 16, 2026Skagit Valley Tulip Fields, Washington, United States
Jun 29, 2025Blue lagoon of Pulau Ay, Banda Islands, Indonesia
Feb 7, 2026Salar de Uyuni salt flats in Bolivia
Dec 13, 2023Svolvaer, Lofoten Islands, Norway
Jun 24, 2024Kelimutu, Flores, Indonesia
May 4, 2025Plaza de España, Seville, Spain
June 4, 2026Snowy egret preening, central Florida, United States
Jun 18, 2024Lupine fields, Snæfellsnes, Iceland
Sep 10, 2023Walruses in Svalbard, Norway