Among China’s four most renowned Buddhist grottoes—Mogao, Longmen, Maijishan, and Yungang—it’s the Yungang Grottoes that left the deepest impression on me. Nestled on the southern slopes of Wuzhou Mountain in the western outskirts of Datong, Shanxi Province, Yungang carries both historical gravity and an almost spiritual serenity. Interestingly, “Yungang” itself refers to the mountain, from which the site gets its name.
What sets Yungang apart is its remarkable unity of vision. Unlike many heritage sites that took shape over centuries and under various dynasties, the Yungang Grottoes were largely completed during a single chapter in Chinese history—the Northern Wei dynasty. This concentrated effort makes it not just an artistic marvel, but also a compelling lens into a moment when Buddhism was taking root in China, deeply entwined with imperial ambitions.
Construction began in 453 AD under Emperor Wencheng. As the story goes, a Buddhist monk named Tan Yao traveled to Pingcheng (now modern-day Datong), then the capital of Northern Wei. One day, during the emperor’s procession, a royal horse is said to have gently tugged at Tan Yao’s robe. This unusual moment was taken as a divine sign. The emperor, intrigued, invited Tan Yao to his court and eventually took him on as a spiritual advisor. It was Tan Yao who proposed the idea of carving caves into Wuzhou Mountain—not just to promote Buddhism, but to project the empire’s moral and spiritual authority.
Over the next five decades, more than 40,000 artisans, laborers, monks, and even pilgrims from as far away as Sri Lanka contributed to this grand endeavor. The result is a breathtaking fusion of early Chinese Buddhist aesthetics with stylistic elements from India and even the Greco-Roman world—a reminder of how interconnected ancient civilizations truly were.
The grottoes today are divided into two broad sections: Caves 1 through 20 were commissioned directly by the imperial court, while Caves 21 to 45 were funded by private patrons. Each one offers a distinct atmosphere—some meditative and solemn, others exuberantly ornate.
Here are a few highlights from my visit:
Caves 1 & 2: These are paired temple caves, mirroring one another with their symmetrical layouts and central pillars carved in the style of Han-era wooden pagodas. I loved how they evoked a sense of timeless architectural continuity.
Cave 3: The largest cave at Yungang, it houses a towering Amitabha Buddha. Around mid-afternoon, a beam of sunlight streams through a high window and lands directly on the statue’s face. The effect is almost cinematic—it gave me goosebumps.
Cave 5 & 6: Cave 5 contains the tallest seated Buddha in the complex, standing a mighty 17 meters high. Cave 6 next door is a gem of detail, with thousands of tiny carvings that invite you to slow down and look closer.
Cave 12: Dubbed the “Music Cave,” it delighted me with its joyful depictions of heavenly musicians playing ancient instruments. Its formal name is the “Pure Land Bodhisattva Cave,” but to me, it felt like walking into a silent concert.
Cave 15: The “Ten Thousand Buddhas Cave” truly lives up to its name—the walls are covered in rows upon rows of miniature Buddha figures. Standing inside feels like being enveloped by the teachings of the Dharma.
Cave 18: A small window here looks directly across at a standing Buddha. As I stood there, it felt like the statue was quietly watching me—not in judgment, but with compassion.
Cave 19 & 20: These are two of the most iconic. Cave 19 holds Yungang’s second-largest Buddha, while Cave 20 is the famed “Open-Air Buddha,” said to be modeled after the founding Northern Wei emperor, Daowu. Many visitors (myself included!) love taking photos in front of it with an outstretched palm—it looks like you’re high-fiving the Buddha.
What struck me most about Yungang was how walkable and accessible the site is. You don’t need a shuttle bus—just a good pair of shoes and time to wander. Each cave offers something unique, whether it’s awe-inspiring scale, delicate artistry, or moments of quiet revelation.
In a world where spirituality and politics often collide or blur, the Yungang Grottoes stand as an enduring reminder of how faith once helped shape an empire—not just in stone, but in vision.
Beijing Wildlife Park is located in the forest in Daxing District, about 40 kilometers away from the urban area. There are more than two hundred animals in the park, with tens of thousands of them. It is a paradise for children to visit and learn. Many animals in the garden adopt free-range methods. You can observe the animals up close in the iron cage, and you can also feed them, which is full of fun.
The end of the car dealership is the starting point of the northern line. There is a mini animal free-range area where you can rent a battery car to enter. The animals here are relatively safe. You can feed herbivores such as alpacas and deer, and you can also interact with the animals.
Songhua River is one of the seven major rivers in China and the largest tributary of Heilongjiang in China. Songhua River was called Nanhe River in Sui Dynasty, Nashui River in Tang Dynasty, Yak River and Huntong River in Liao and Jin Dynasty, and Huntong River, Songhua River in Qing Dynasty. It flows through the two provinces of Jilin and Heilongjiang, with a drainage area of 557,200 square kilometers, covering Heilongjiang, Jilin, Liaoning, and Inner Mongolia in the four northeastern provinces, with an annual runoff of 76.2 billion cubic meters.
In winter, the frozen Songhua River ice is about half a meter thick. People and horse-drawn carriages can walk on the ice. When there is snow, it will be soft. This section of the river in Harbin is about 100 meters wide. On the river surface near the Monument to the Heroes of Flood Control, there are skiing circles, skating tracks, ice games, snow tanks, and ice bike rides. Adults and children can experience it.
Manting Park is located in the southeast of Jinghong City, Yunnan Province. It has hills and rivers, as well as rich ethnic cultural landscapes. It is a natural village-style park and a historic city park in Xishuangbanna. In Manting Park, travelers can go to the vine plant area and the Peacock Garden to see the animals and plants, and they can also visit the Dai and Thai-style buildings, and they can also watch the singing and dancing performances of ethnic minorities in the evening.
There are 8 scenic spots in Manting Park, including ethnic culture square, vine plant area, tropical orchid garden, peacock garden, release lake, Buddhist culture area, tree planting memorial area, and tea garden culture area. The scenic spot embodies the three themes of “Dai royal culture, Buddhist culture, and Dai folk culture”. You can row boats in the park and see wild bears, boars, pythons, peacocks and various birds. It is open for tourists during the day and has the taste of “Imperial Garden”. In the evening, the “Lancang River•Mekong River Night” theatrical performance and bonfire party are the biggest highlights of the park and are worth watching.
TEDA Aircraft Theme Park is a reconstruction of the aircraft carrier Kiev. The internal facilities and combat equipment of the aircraft carrier have been reset. You can visit and understand the scenes of operations and life on the aircraft carrier, as well as large-scale performances that reproduce the aircraft carrier operations. At the same time, the architecture of the scenic spot and many performances are themed to show Russian customs, which is grand and wonderful.
After walking through Russian style street, you will come to the square in the center of the scenic spot. There is a uniquely designed building on the east and north sides of the square. After visiting the two buildings, you will come to the aircraft carrier on the seashore. The interior of the carrier has been restored to the scene of service. There are dozens of projects in the ship, such as the combat command center, the intelligence module, the aircraft carrier science and technology museum, the ship development history, the sailor tilt cabin, and the warrior corridor. There are photo displays, artifact displays, and many weapons facilities. In addition, the most popular performance in the scenic spot-Carrier Storm, is held every day on the aircraft carrier, which truly reproduces the intense scenes of the aircraft carrier battle, and it is very exciting and can be watched in the stands outside the aircraft carrier. At the same time, there will be Russian singing and dancing performances every day on the flyover outside the aircraft carrier, which is gorgeous and romantic, and just don’t miss it.
Qingdao is located on the southeastern coast of the Shandong Peninsula. It is the pearl of the Yellow Sea, the classic of architecture of all nations, the famous city where beer is fragrant, and the hot spot for opening to the outside world.
May to October is the best time to travel in Qingdao. July to August is the golden season for swimming and riding waves. At this time, you can experience Qingdao’s customs most. Because the Oktoberfest opens in August, many tourists will gather in Qingdao to enjoy a drink on Midsummer Eve. September gradually enters the autumn season, which coincides with the good seafood season. Crabs, prawns and other seafood are on the market during the season, attracting people to eat. The autumn colors of Ba Da Guan Scenic Area are also very attractive. Standing in the golden sycamore lanes makes you feel like you are in Paris, France.
Ming Tomb is the mausoleum of Ming Taizu Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma in the Zhongshan Scenic Area. The magnificent tomb represents the achievements of architecture and stone carving art in the early Ming Dynasty. It also directly influenced the shape of the Ming and Qing emperors’ tombs.
Xiangdian is also called Xiaoling Hall. It was originally the place where Zhu Yuanzhang and Empress Ma were dedicated to the gods. The original hall has been destroyed. Now it is the Ming Tomb historical materials showroom. Fangcheng is a huge building in front of Xiaoling Baoding. The exterior is built with large stones and the bottom is Sumeru seat. The Ming Tower is above Fangcheng. The original yellow-tile roof was destroyed and later repaired. Follow the trails on the left and right sides of Fangcheng to reach Ming Tower. To the north of Fangcheng is Baoding, which is also known as Baocheng, and it is about 400 meters long and is the residence of Zhu Yuanzhang and Queen Ma’s palace. Enter through the arch in the middle of the Fangcheng, you will find there is a circular arch tunnel inside. Climb 54 steps to get out of the tunnel, then outside is the southern wall of Baoding. Below Baoding is the underground palace of Zhu Yuanzhang’s tomb. No excavation was carried out.
Qinghai Provincial Museum is located at Xinning Square in Xining City. Although it is not a large provincial museum, it is also a good place to learn about Qinghai’s history and cultures of various ethnic groups. In addition, there are exhibition explanations on Tibetan Buddhism and Islamic cultural systems in the museum, which is very helpful for later travel around Qinghai.
The Qinghai Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition showcases the culture and customs of many ethnic groups in Qinghai. There are many models, sand tables, etc. that show Qinghai’s many festivals, etiquette, singing and dancing and other arts and culture. In addition, there are many cultural relics of Tibetan Buddhism in the museum, such as thangka, mandala, etc. Among them, the gilt bronze statue of Guanyin gifted by Emperor Yongle in the Ming Dynasty is the treasure of the entire museum. You can learn about it.
Sayram Lake, known as the “clean sea”, is located in the northern Tianshan Mountains in Bole City, Boltala Mongolia Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, close to Huocheng County, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture. The lake surface is 2071 meters above sea level, 30 kilometers from east to west and 25 kilometers from north to south. With an area of 453 square kilometers, the water storage capacity is 21 billion cubic meters, the lake water is clear and transparent, and the transparency is 12 meters.
The sunrise of Sayram Lak, the sky after the rain, and the rainbow are very beautiful, which look like the fairyland, the beauty is spectacular, the fun is interesting, the cost performance is super high. It is really a great choice for travelling.
Three Gorges Museum is located on the west side of Chongqing People’s Square. The museum houses tens of thousands of various cultural relics such as Bashu bronzes and sculptures of the Han Dynasty, showing the development history of this mountain city. In the exhibition hall “Magnificent Three Gorges”, a large number of physical objects in the Three Gorges Reservoir area were collected, and the original appearance of the Three Gorges was reproduced.
On the third floor, the “Chongqing Great Bomb Half-View Painting Exhibition Hall” reproduces the historical events of the Chongqing Great Bomb through modern technological means and sculptures, oil paintings and other forms. “Years of War of Resistance Against Japan” shows the contributions and sacrifices of the city of Chongqing and the people of Chongqing for the War of Resistance against Japan with many detailed materials.