Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China 11 Feb 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 over 15 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
11 Feb 2024Folegandros Island, Cyclades, Greece
11 Feb 2026Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California, USA

More Desktop Wallpapers:

3 Jan 2024J.R.R. Tolkien Day
1 Feb 2024Sassnitz lighthouse, Rügen, Germany
30 Jul 2024Friendship Day
18 Nov 2023Polar bear season in Manitoba
On the edge
19 Oct 2023Mekong River Delta, Long An, Vietnam
17 Aug 2025International Lighthouse Lightship Weekend
2 Nov 2023Death Valley National Park, California, USA
16 Jan 2026Leopard at Etosha National Park, Namibia
14 May 2025Porto Flavia, Sulcis-Iglesiente, Sardinia, Italy
3 May 2024The Sonoran Desert, Arizona, USA
A legendary islet
3 Dec 2023Advent Sunday
16 Mar 2026National Panda Day
16 Oct 2023Golden larches and Prusik Peak, Enchantments, Washington, USA
The butterfly effect
Purple mountain majesties
24 Jan 2026Big Garden Birdwatch
A bridge that holds up history
Celebrating our looming lunar neighbour
6 Feb 20262026 Winter Olympics
Hop into Lunar New Year
27 Jul 2024Cowes Week
20 Aug 2024Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, USA
2 Dec 2023Angkor, Cambodia
2 Jun 2025Skipper butterfly on an Echinacea flower
Rainbow reflection
A salty situation
29 Apr 2026Belém Tower, Lisbon, Portugal
17 May 2025A delta in the Venetian Lagoon, Italy