云冈石窟

The Yungang Grottoes were mainly excavated from the 5th century to the early 6th century and present imperial Buddhism of the Northern Wei Dynasty with giant Buddha statues, narrative reliefs and ever-changing statue styles. The Tan Yao Five Grottoes formed an early unified group, and subsequent caves showed more complex architectural imagery, as well as increasingly Chinese costumes and decorations. Weathering and conservation are themselves part of the heritage story, and local closures and light control should be understood as conservation measures.