[2025 Zichang Attraction] Travel Guide for Zhongshan Grottoes (Updated Mar)

😜 Today, I'm going to share an amazing place with you - Zhongshan Grottoes in Zichang County, Shaanxi Province! 🎨 This is the pinnacle of Song Dynasty grottoes! 🤩 The exquisite carvings are a testament to the wisdom and craftsmanship of the ancients. 👍 If you're interested in history and culture, this is definitely a place you can't miss! 👏

Zhongshan Grottoes, located 15 kilometers west of Zichang County, Shaanxi Province, also known as Wanfo Rock, Puji Temple, Dapuji Zen Temple, Shigong Temple. It was first built during the Taihe period of the Jin Dynasty (366-370 AD). After more than a thousand years of construction, the entire grottoes were built along the mountain, connecting to the Qingfeng Mingyue Opera Tower in the east, overlooking the Xiuyan River in the south, and the ancient city of Anding in the west, which is a must-pass route for the northern route of the Silk Road in China. Zhongshan Grottoes are an important birthplace of Buddhism in Northwest China. The scale of the grottoes is magnificent and spectacular, with incense burning throughout the ages, known as a "paradise on earth". In 1988, it was announced by the State Council as a "National Key Cultural Relics Protection Unit". There are more than 10,000 large and small Buddha statues inside, the relief Buddha statues are well-arranged, finely crafted, and some experts call it "the second Dunhuang", believing that it has extremely high historical, scientific, and artistic value.

🟨The loess belt through which the Yellow River flows has cultivated ancient Chinese civilization, and the integration of foreign Buddhist ideas has also left eye-catching rare treasures here. Located in the Yan'an area in the southern part of the Loess Plateau in northern Shaanxi, there are several grotto temples with high artistic standards, which can be regarded as an important link in the history of the development of Chinese grotto art. 🟫The Zhongshan Grottoes are located at the southern foot of Zhongshan Mountain in the east of Anding Town, about 15 kilometers west of Zichang. It is backed by Zhongshan Mountain and faces Yanhe River. The representative masterpiece here is the main cave, which was built in the fourth year of Zhiping (1067), the reign of Emperor Yingzong of the Northern Song Dynasty. Its plan is rectangular, 16.4 meters wide, 9.5 meters deep and 5.5 meters high. A large rectangular Buddhist altar was carved in the center of the cave. Eight square stone pillars were erected on the altar, symmetrical from front to back and arranged in two rows, leading directly to the top of the cave. Three groups of Buddha statues are placed on the Buddhist altar. The stone pillars on the altar and the four walls of the cave are carved with images of Buddhas, Bodhisattvas, and Arhats of various sizes, showing three-dimensional images with vivid charm and distinctive personality. 🏆The third batch of national key cultural relics protection units 📍Address: At the foot of Zhongshan Mountain in the east of Anding Town, Zichang City, Shaanxi Province 🎫Ticket: 30 yuan/person