Xiangtangshan Grottoes, also known as Xiangtangsi Grottoes, is located in Fengfeng Mining Area in the southwest of Handan City, Hebei Province. It is a Buddhist grotto in China and a large-scale grotto in Hebei Province. The Buddha Caves and Statues were first built during the Northern and Southern Dynasties and Northern Qi Dynasty. After generations of grand construction, there are currently 16 Buddha Caves and numerous Buddha statues, making it a popular destination for visiting ancient sites, sightseeing, and praying for blessings in North China. Today, visiting the Xiangtangshan Grottoes is divided into two parts, north and south, which are about 15 kilometers apart. In addition, there is a water bath temple near the north Xiangtangshan Grottoes, also known as the Little Xiangtang Grottoes. The Xiangtangshan Grottoes to the north of the three grottoes are large in scale and well preserved. They are also the main destination for tourists. It takes about half a day to visit the north Xiangtangshan Grottoes. If you have enough time, you can also visit the smaller South Xiangtangshan Grottoes. Shuiyu Temple (Xiaoxiangtang Grottoes) is smaller in scale and is usually only visited by local villagers when offering incense. Only tourists who are very interested in grotto art will go for in-depth sightseeing. North Xiangtangshan Grottoes, built under the leadership of the royal family of the Northern Qi Dynasty, is located on the north side of the Fengfeng mining area and is the main tourist destination. This is not only a cave resort, but also a beautiful mountain range where tourists can climb on foot and play along the way. The scenic area is mainly divided into the front area at the foot of the mountain, the grotto area on the mountainside, and the top and back mountain areas. It takes about half an hour to climb from the foot of the mountain to the grotto area, and 1-1.5 hours to reach the top of the mountain. There are ruins of ancient pagodas and temples from the Song Dynasty in the mountainous area, all of which are very ancient and can be visited and photographed. The mountaintop area is mainly characterized by natural scenery, with the Xianren Cave, a natural cave, charging a single admission fee of 3 yuan. The cave is equipped with a tour guide who can enter and visit rocks and Buddha statues. The skybridge in the back mountain also costs 3 yuan. The mountain scenery in this area is beautiful, and after climbing the mountain peak, the view of the surrounding mountains is also very broad. The grotto area located on the mountainside is the main recreational area within the scenic area. The nine main grottoes of Beixiangtang are all located here, most of which were excavated during the Northern Qi period. The sculptures and paintings of Buddha statues are very exquisite and can be carefully explored one by one. The Great Buddha Cave was excavated during the Northern Wei Dynasty, with a long history and a large scale. It is an exquisite grotto in Beixiangtang, so don't miss it here. The Nanxiangtang Grottoes are located next to the urban area of Fengfeng Mining District and were built under the supervision of Gao Anaju, a minister of Northern Qi. The scale here is relatively small, and there is no need to climb mountains, making it relatively easy to play. The grottoes are divided into two layers along the mountain wall, with a total of seven main Buddha caves. However, many Buddha statues have had their heads stolen and many have been lost overseas. In the grottoes of Nanxiangtang, there are precious ancient stone carvings of the Avatamsaka Sutra inside the Huayan Cave, which can be visited for viewing. There are many Buddha statues, exquisite painted murals, roofs, etc. in the Thousand Buddha Cave, which is also the essence of the grottoes in the scenic area. It takes about 2 hours to explore the entire Nanxiangtang Grottoes. Shushui Temple, also known as Xiaoxiangtang Grottoes, is located about ten kilometers north of Fengfeng Mining Area. This grotto was built under the supervision of monks and civilians, and its scale is relatively small. It can be visited for 1-2 hours. There is a temple in front of the grotto, which is a place for local villagers to offer incense. Behind the temple is a grotto, divided into two caves, east and west. The existing Buddha statues are mainly excavated during the Tang and Song dynasties. Due to the later excavation period and mature craftsmanship, the grottoes here are more refined. However, due to historical destruction and theft, many Buddha heads are no longer there, which is a great pity. It should be noted that Shushui Temple has not yet been officially developed as a scenic spot, and the grottoes are protected by railings. The railings are only opened on the first and fifteenth day of each lunar month when villagers come to offer incense. If you want to come and watch, please pay attention to the time. Travel Tips
Address: Xiangtang Mountain Scenic Area, Fengfeng Mining Area and Villages, Handan City, Hebei Province
Phone: 0310-5050222
Opening hours: 8:00-18:00
Ticket: CNY25 during peak season, CNY15 during off-season