Exquisite Flying Apsaras and Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha | Gongyi Grottoes, Henan

【Seeing Central Plains·Gongyi·Exquisite Flying Apsaras and Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha】It was not originally included in this trip, but was added a few days before departure. Fortunately, it was added. This small city located between Luoyang and Zhengzhou hides two national treasures, which brought us a huge surprise! The Gongyi Grottoes were carved during the reign of Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty. Although the scale is far less than the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, it is extremely exquisite. Thousands of years have passed, and many parts of the grottoes have been damaged, but they still retain the unique 'Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha' and the so-called most beautiful flying Apsaras and other exquisite carvings in China. The grottoes are very small, with only 5 left, and a few scattered tourists. I believe that the Longmen Grottoes in the summer vacation may have been crowded. Lingering and forgetting to return, I have looked at it many times, Gongyi Grottoes, YYDS! Tips1: Must-see points: ✅ First Grotto: Emperor's Buddha Worship Picture on the East Side + Empress's Buddha Worship Picture on the West Side ✅ Second Grotto: Cliff Buddha and disciples outside the grotto ✅ Flying Apsaras: around the Buddha niche and the top of the grotto (each grotto has) ✅ Thousand Buddha Niches: 999 small Buddhas + 1 big Buddha ✅ Third Grotto: The most beautiful flying Apsaras, musicians and strong men (all below) ✅ Fifth Grotto: A very large lotus flower well on the top of the grotto Tips2: The bas-relief of 'Emperor and Empress Worshiping Buddha' is located on both sides of the east and west doors of the first, third, and fourth grottoes of the Grotto Temple, with 3 pieces on each side, a total of 18 pieces, which are the only ones in the existing grottoes in the country. Among them, the first grotto is the most exquisite. The left side depicts the scene of the emperor worshiping Buddha. In the picture, Emperor Xiaowen wears a 'crown', wears a 'dragon robe', and has monks in cassocks as guides. Under the guidance of princes, ministers, and close attendants with umbrellas, feather covers (emperor's ceremonial guards with bird feathers as decorations), long swords, and incense boxes, they slowly advance. The picture shows the dignified nobles and the short attendants forming a clear contrast of respect and inferiority. The right side is the picture of the empress worshiping Buddha. Empress Wenzhao wears a lotus crown, draped in a cloud robe, holding incense in one hand, followed by two noble ladies, walking slowly in the wind under the escort of many palace ladies.