Longmen Grottoes: Where History and Innovation Unite

Longmen Grottoes
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Longmen Grottoes: Where History and Innovation Unite

Longmen Grottoes blends ancient Buddhist art with modern digital technology to protect and share its cultural heritage worldwide.

In 2024, China’s Longmen Grottoes welcomed over 7.7 million visitors. In early 2025, international arrivals rose more than fourfold. Today, the site is drawing global attention—not just for its ancient beauty, but also for its digital innovation.

Longmen Grottoes
On May 20th, visitors thronged the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang. (Photo by Li Guigang)

Carved Through Centuries

The Longmen Grottoes, located in Luoyang, Henan Province, were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000. For centuries, this site has attracted travelers and researchers from around the world.

Carving began in the late 5th century, during the Northern Wei Dynasty, and continued through six more dynasties. Over 500 years, artisans created more than 2,000 caves and 100,000 statues across a one-kilometer cliff face.

Most of the surviving carvings date from the Northern Wei and Tang periods. These eras marked the peak of Buddhist art in China.

UNESCO describes Longmen as home to “the most impressive collection of Chinese art from the late Northern Wei and Tang dynasties. Entirely devoted to Buddhism, these works represent the high point of Chinese stone carving.”

Buddha head
A restored Tang Dynasty Buddha head. (Photo by Kan Li)

A Digital Revival

In recent years, Longmen has embraced digital technology. The Longmen Grottoes Research Institute uses 3D scanning to record the caves in high detail. Online museums now let global audiences explore the site remotely.

Inside the Wanfo (Ten Thousand Buddhas) Cave, visitors can scan a damaged statue of Guanyin with a smartphone. On screen, a full, restored version appears, along with a short introduction.

The restoration is based on old photographs from the early 20th century. Experts combined 3D modeling, color analysis, and traditional art techniques. For example, this Guanyin figure is China’s first stone statue restored entirely through digital technology.

A new Longmen Grottoes Museum is under construction. Once completed next year, it will display more treasures from the site and offer a deeper look into its history—both ancient and digital.

Longmen Grottoes
A distant view of the Longmen Grottoes, taken on May 20. (Photo by Li Guigang)

Written by Chen Wang, addutional reporting by CNS, People’s Daily.

If you liked this article, why not read: Yiran Duan: Traditional Crafts are a Bridge for Cultural Exchange

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