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 18 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, musicians and even scenes of daily life under Wei rule.

© Eric Yang/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

A sky full of stars
Feb. 11, 2026Death Valley National Park, California, United States

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov. 7, 2023Kirkilai lakes, Biržai Regional Park, Lithuania
The ‘potato chip bird’
Jun 21, 2026National Indigenous Peoples Day
Feb. 6, 20262026 Winter Olympics
May 31, 2024Gunnerside, Yorkshire Dales National Park, England
May 12, 2024Mothers Day
Feb. 17, 2025Coll dAres, Catalan Pyrenees
Today, a nation was born
Jul. 11, 2025World Population Day
May 26, 2024Methow Valley, North Cascades, Washington
A bridge that holds up history
Protecting the gentle giants
Dec. 25, 2023Christmas Day
Stop and smell the Sakura
Widespread and long-eared
Trusty water-shifters
Sequoias of the sea
May 22, 2024International Day for Biological Diversity
Jul. 15, 2025Perseid meteor shower over Nevada
Aug. 30, 2023International Whale Shark Day
Spring is the time for billing
Jun 22, 2026World Rainforest Day
Magnified moss
Jun. 2, 2025Fogo Island, Newfoundland and Labrador
Jan. 1, 2025Happy New Year!
Mar. 25, 2026Forgetmenot Pond, Kananaskis Country, Alberta
Apr. 15, 2024World Art Day
What are they celebrating?
Dec. 2, 2025Whistler, British Columbia
Oct. 4, 2025Nuit Blanche Toronto