Plan at a glance
Northern Wei grottoes above the Daling River
Wanfotang Grottoes (万佛堂石窟) date to 499 CE, the 23rd year of the Taihe era under the Northern Wei. They lie on the southern slope of Mount Fushan, about 9 km northwest of Yixian, and face south above the Daling River. The site has 16 caves and nearly 500 carved stone figures. View the riverbank only from areas open to visitors; do not enter a closed section.
Tickets, hours and visit length
Admission is CNY 40. Student and senior discounts are available with qualifying ID; tickets can be bought online or at the entrance. Reference hours are 08:00–16:30 from April through October, with ticket sales ending at 16:00, and 08:30–16:00 from November through March, with sales ending at 15:30. Allow 1–1.5 hours for a quick visit or 2–3 hours to look more closely. Holiday hours may differ.
Tickets and visit details
View visit options for this attraction and confirm the visit date and current arrangements before you go.
Choose your visit
West Cave 6, Cave 5 and the central-pillar cave
West Cave 6 contains the largest figure at the site: a seated Maitreya figure with crossed ankles, 3.05 meters tall. West Cave 5 has the Yuanjing inscription, while West Cave 1 is a central-pillar cave with niches on all four sides. Cave access may change for conservation work.
East Cave 7 and the Guanyin figure
The “Laughing Buddha” is in East Cave 7. The east section also has a clay statue of Thousand-Armed, Thousand-Eyed Guanyin, along with Manjushri and Samantabhadra. Follow the site signs to locate the Guanyin figure.
Cave settings and viewing conditions
This visit suits travelers comfortable with dim, confined cave interiors. Compare the carvings in the west section, then view the caves’ relationship to the river from open areas. Follow the signs for photography; do not use flash or a tripod unless permitted.
How the west and east sections developed
The west section is associated with Yuanjing’s prayers for Emperor Xiaowen and his ancestors. The east section is associated with Han Zhen and 74 soldiers praying for the people. In the west caves, look for inscriptions, ceiling panels and flying apsaras. Stay on the open paths throughout.
Build your day
Quick route: about 1–1.5 hours
Follow the open route from west to east. If accessible, visit West Cave 6 for the crossed-leg Maitreya, Cave 5 for its inscription and Cave 1 for the central pillar, then East Cave 7 for the Laughing Buddha and the open Guanyin display. If a cave is closed, follow the signs onward; do not cross barriers.
Detailed visit: about 2–3 hours
Take more time with the west-section carvings and inscriptions, then continue to the east-section figures, stopping at caves that are open and reading their signs. Ask whether a guide is available; an in-person guide is about CNY 100 per session as a reference, so confirm availability and price on site. A 1–2-hour visit is another common estimate; actual time depends on cave access, a guide and walking pace.
Transfer to Fengguo Temple
Fengguo Temple and Wanfotang Grottoes are separate sites about 20 km apart by road, roughly a 30-minute drive. A direct holiday shuttle has sometimes been listed at about CNY 10, but confirm whether it runs, whether it returns and how tickets work before planning around it.
Get there
Navigate to Wanfotang Village
Set your destination to “Wanfotang Grottoes” (万佛堂石窟), in Wanfotang Village, Toutai Town, Yixian. There is a car park at the entrance; the reference fee is CNY 20 per visit. Follow the posted parking fee and availability information.
From Yixian Station or town
Arrange a taxi or book a car in advance from Yixian Railway Station or the county town. If you plan to take a bus, first confirm its actual stop, the walking distance to the entrance and the return schedule. A round-trip charter from town is listed at about CNY 80 with roughly one hour of waiting time; confirm the current fare and waiting arrangement with the driver.
Know before you go
Dim caves and preservation
Some caves have low light, and steps and floors may be uneven. Watch your footing and do not touch the carvings. Follow the notices at each cave entrance; flash photography and tripods require permission.
Guides and time on site
Guide availability, price and language depend on the day. Ask at the service desk or call 0416-7575337. If no guide is available, prioritize West Cave 5 for its inscription, Cave 1 for the central pillar and Cave 6 for the Maitreya.
Food and supplies
Liuji Water Tofu (刘记水豆腐), Maolou Restaurant (懋楼饭店) and Jinjia Smoked Chicken (金家熏鸡) are outside the grottoes in or around Yixian. Bring water and a light snack before entering, or plan your main meal in town.