Yungang Grottoes, Datong, China Feb 11, 2025

What do 51,000 ancient statues have in common? They all call the Yungang Grottoes in China home! This masterpiece of early Buddhist art is near Datong in Shanxi province, northeastern China. Carved into sandstone cliffs over 1,500 years ago during the Northern Wei dynasty (386–534/535 CE), the grottoes contain 254 caves. The highlight is the massive Buddha in Cave 5, which is a jaw-dropping 17 metres tall. But don"t stop there—each cave offers something unique. Some are like ancient storyboards, depicting tales from Buddhist scriptures, while others showcase detailed carvings of monks, deities, musician and even scenes of daily life under Wei rule.

© Eric Yang/Getty Images

palette

Today in History

Feb 11, 2026Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California, USA

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Feb 11, 2026Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California, USA
Nov 14, 2025Mother manatee and calf
Mar 20, 2025Daffodils
Mar 16, 2025A kingfisher perched on a branch
Jul 2, 2025Spine-cheeked anemonefish
Aug 7, 2025Gasparilla Island Rear Range Light, Boca Grande, Florida, United States
May 7, 2024Duckling in a water meadow, Suffolk, England
Sep 14, 2024Rapa Nui National Park, Easter Island, Chile
Nov 17, 2025Shenandoah National Park, Virginia, United States
Oct 14, 2024Coco Beach, Goa, India
Jun 21, 2025Masai giraffes in the Serengeti
Mar 12, 2024Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, USA
Jun 9, 2025Old City of Dubrovnik in Dalmatia, Croatia
Sep 13, 2025Point Reyes National Seashore
Feb 26, 2024Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA
Aug 23, 2023Skógafoss waterfall, Iceland
Nov 6, 2024Shi Shi Beach in Olympic National Park, Washington, USA
May 30, 2024Everglades National Park, Florida, USA
Feb 12, 2024Galápagos tortoise
May 20, 2024Bee tending a honeycomb
Jan 18, 2025Dunes at White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Jun 6, 2024Greater flamingos at Pont de Gau Ornithological Park, Camargue, France
Sep 23, 2025Keel-billed toucan, Costa Rica
Jan 3, 2025Radcliffe Camera and All Souls College, University of Oxford, England
Feb 14, 2025Magellanic penguins
Sep 7, 2023Camels in the desert, United Arab Emirates
Jan 27, 2024Spot-billed toucanet, Brazil
Nov 19, 2025Hungarian Parliament Building, Budapest, Hungary
Jan 11, 2026Blue walls of Chefchaouen, Morocco
Dec 15, 2025Spiegelgracht canal in Amsterdam