Bingling Temple Pagodas

The Bingling Temple is located in Yongjing County, Gansu Province, carved into cliffs along the Yellow River. The site is accessible primarily by boat across the Liujiaxia Reservoir, which was created by a dam on the Yellow River and partially submerged some of the surrounding landscape.

The earliest Buddhist carvings at the Bingling Temple date to the Western Qin dynasty in the 4th century CE, making them among the oldest Buddhist cave art in China. Carvings and sculptures continued to be added through subsequent dynasties, including the Northern Wei, Tang, and Ming.

The site is famous for a large Maitreya Buddha statue carved directly into the cliff face, dating to the Tang dynasty. This monumental seated Buddha is one of the most visually striking features of the complex and is a significant example of Tang-era Buddhist rock carving.

Visitors typically reach the Bingling Temple by taking a boat across the Liujiaxia Reservoir from the town of Liujiaxia, as the cliffs are largely inaccessible by road. The journey across the reservoir is a well-known part of the tourist experience, offering views of the dramatic Yellow River gorge landscape.