Southern Grotto Temple of Jingchuan

The Southern Grotto Temple of Jingchuan is located in Jiangjia Village on the north bank of the Jing River to the east of Jingchuan County seat. According to the record on the stone-stele of the Southern Grotto Temple the grotto was caved by Xi Kangsheng, a prefect of Jingchuan in 510, the 3rd year under the reign of Yongping of the Northern Wei Dynasty.

Now in existence here are 5 grottoes with No.1 the Eastern big cave and No.2 the Western small cave remaining comparatively well kept. The No.1 Eastern big cave is the main cave in the grotto temple here. Standing 13 meters high and 17 meters wide with a depth of 14 meters it features a unique structure of grandness in the shape of a cave. Standing along three sides of the cave wall are 7 Buddha figures of over 2 meters high and they are flanked with 13 attendant Bodhisattvas of vivid and varied descriptions. The cave ceiling is spread with a number of bas-reliefs, such as the Buddhist stories: to feed the tiger by sacrificing oneself and the games in the palace, etc. The ways of cutting are quite simple and succinct with fluent and vividly looking lines, giving a full expression to the ingenious wisdom of ancient artisans and their wishes for a fine and better life.