The Bingling Temple World Cultural Heritage Tourism Area is located in Yongjing County, Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province. It is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. The scenic area consists of three major areas: the Bingling Temple Grottoes, Bingling Stone Forest, and Bingling Lake, with a total area of approximately 180 square kilometers. The Bingling Temple Grottoes are renowned for preserving the earliest dated inscriptions in Chinese grottoes, featuring 694 stone carvings, 82 clay sculptures, and approximately 900 square meters of murals. The Bingling Stone Forest is a typical near-water Danxia landform landscape with a total area of about 30 square kilometers, characterized by thousands of towering peaks and numerous crisscrossing valleys. Bingling Lake has a total length of 66 kilometers, a water area of 150 square kilometers, and a reservoir capacity of 5.7 billion cubic meters, making it one of the largest artificial plateau lakes in China.
Historical Culture
The Bingling Temple was first built in the Western Qin Dynasty and was originally named "Tangshu Grotto", which means "Ghost Grotto" in the Qiang language. It later had the names Longxing Temple and Lingyan Temple. After the Yongle period of the Ming Dynasty, it was officially named "Bingling Temple" by taking the Tibetan translation of "One Hundred Thousand Buddhas". Its historical origin can be traced back more than 1,600 years. During the period when the Western Qin Dynasty established its capital in Linxia, the king personally visited the grottoes and inscribed inscriptions, with the authentic works still remaining on the rock walls. From the excavation of the grottoes in the first year of Jianhong (420 AD) of the Western Qin Dynasty to the Song Dynasty, the grottoes had a significant influence on Han Buddhism, Pure Land Buddhism, Huayan Buddhism, and Chan Buddhism. During the Sui Dynasty, this place was a prosperous merchant ship mooring site and a necessary passage for the ancient "Silk Road" heading south to Tubo. At the end of the Yuan Dynasty and the beginning of the Ming Dynasty, the Yellow Sect (Gelug Sect) of Tibetan Buddhism was introduced to the Bingling Temple. In 2014, the Bingling Temple Grottoes were successfully inscribed on the World Heritage List as one of the heritage sites of the "Silk Road: Route Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor".
Main Attractions
Bingling Temple Grottoes
The Bingling Temple Grottoes are divided into three parts: Upper Temple, Donggou, and Lower Temple, distributed on the red sandstone cliffs on both sides of Dasigou. The grottoes are stacked layer upon layer, with winding plank roads spiraling upward. There are currently 196 existing niches. The largest Tang Dynasty Maitreya seated Buddha is 27 meters high, and the smallest statue is 10 centimeters high. Among them, there are 2 caves and 1 niche excavated in the Western Qin Dynasty, 8 caves and 25 niches in the Northern Wei Dynasty, 2 caves in the Northern Zhou Dynasty, 2 caves in the Sui Dynasty, and 20 caves and 113 niches in the Tang Dynasty, with the Tang Dynasty works achieving the highest artistic standards. Cave 169 is the largest, earliest, and richest in content among the Bingling Temple grottoes, with a width of 26.75 meters, a height of 15 meters, and a depth of 19 meters. It contains a ink inscription from the first year of Jianhong in the Western Qin Dynasty, which is the earliest dated inscription preserved in domestic grottoes and provides an identification for the dating of other ancient grottoes across the country.
Bingling Stone Forest
The Bingling Stone Forest is a typical near-water Danxia landform landscape, known as the "No. 1 Wonder in the World." With a total area of about 30 square kilometers, it features thousands of towering peaks and numerous crisscrossing valleys. Representative attractions include Yuanbao Mountain, Princess Wencheng's Journey to Tibet, Potala Peak, and Buddha's Palm Peak. Each peak has a unique shape, like artworks carefully carved by nature.
Bingling Lake
Bingling Lake is one of the largest artificial plateau lakes in China, with a total length of 66 kilometers, a water area of 150 square kilometers, and a reservoir capacity of 5.7 billion cubic meters. The lake water is clearly divided into clear and turbid parts, with green and yellow colors contrasting. Taking a boat tour of Bingling Lake allows visitors to admire the magnificent scenery of towering peaks, such as Ten Thousand Tablets Facing the Sky and Sister Peaks.
Food
Hand-Grabbed Mutton
It is made from high-quality local mutton, cooked and directly eaten by hand. The meat is tender and delicious, without any muttony smell or greasiness.
Yellow River Carp
The Yellow River carp in Bingling Lake has firm meat and rich nutrition. It can be steamed or braised, with a rich and mellow taste.
Lentil Noodles
Lentils are cooked and then boiled with noodles, added with scallions, chili oil, and other seasonings. They have a smooth texture and a rich bean flavor.
Fruit Wood Roasted Whole Lamb
Whole lamb is roasted over fruit wood charcoal, with a golden and crispy outer skin and tender and juicy inner meat, full of aroma.
Admission
Peak season ticket: 100 yuan per person
Off-season ticket: 50 yuan per person
The ticket price may be adjusted according to different seasons and scenic area policies. It is recommended to check the latest information on the official website or relevant tourism platforms.
Opening Hours
Usually open from 08:30 to 18:30, with ticket sales ending at 17:30. However, opening hours may change due to weather or special circumstances. Please pay attention to the official announcements of the scenic area before traveling.
Itinerary
First, take a sightseeing cruise to enjoy the scenery of Bingling Lake, admiring attractions such as Ten Thousand Tablets Facing the Sky and Sister Peaks along the way. After arriving at the Bingling Stone Forest Tourist Distribution and Transfer Wharf, visit the Bingling Stone Forest to appreciate the unique Danxia landform. Finally, take a cruise to the Bingling Temple Grottoes Wharf and hike to visit the Bingling Temple Grottoes to experience the profound heritage of thousand-year-old Buddhist culture.
Transportation
- Starting from Lanzhou, take a car to Liujiaxia Hydropower Station Dam first, then transfer to a yacht to Bingling Temple. The waterway distance is approximately 54 kilometers.
- You can also depart from Yongjing County Town and take a land route to Bingling Temple, which is about 30 kilometers away.
Must-See Attractions
- Bingling Temple Grottoes: One of China's famous grotto temples with a history of more than 1,600 years, housing a large number of exquisite stone carvings, clay sculptures, and murals. Its earliest dated inscriptions are of great significance for dating grottoes.
- Bingling Stone Forest: A natural sculpture museum with unique near-water Danxia landform landscapes, where peaks are variously shaped and the scenery is magnificent.
- Bingling Lake: A plateau flat lake with vast water areas, where the beautiful scenery of lakes and mountains blends. Taking a boat tour allows you to enjoy unique landscape scenery.
Tour Tips
- Understand the scenic area's opening hours and ticket information in advance and plan your itinerary reasonably.
- When visiting the grottoes, follow a guide or rent a commentary device to better understand the history and culture.
- Take sun protection measures in summer and keep warm in winter, bringing appropriate clothing.
- Set aside enough time to admire the scenery of Bingling Lake and the unique landform of the Bingling Stone Forest.
Notes
- Abide by the scenic area's regulations and do not touch or climb cultural relics and historic sites at will.
- When sightseeing on the boat, follow the staff's arrangements, pay attention to safety, and wear a life jacket.
- Protect the environment, do not litter, and keep the scenic area clean.
- If you are unfamiliar with religious culture, avoid inappropriate behaviors when visiting the grottoes.