The Longmen Grottoes are located at the southern end of the Western Hills Park, between the Sanqing Taoist Temple and the Datian Pavilion. They are the largest and most exquisite Taoist grottoes in Yunnan Province. It is said that the Yangs, the officials who were in charge of the construction of the park ordered more than 70 stonemasons to build the grottoes. These stonemasons spent around 22 years to finish the remarkable grottoes. The Longmen Grottoes are famous for their uniqueness and steepness in the world, making them must visit attractions in Kunming for tourists.
The first thing that appears into your eyes when you reach the grottoes is the delicate Longmen Gate. The gate is a true gem of the grottoes because of its exquisite workmanship. There is this stele beside the gate, with the shape of ancient Chinese coins carved on it. Rumor has it that those who touch the stele will make a fortune soon, so almost all the visitors to the grottoes will touch it. There is a little balcony bounded by white marble railings near the entrance of the grottoes. From inside the balcony, you can enjoy the overview of the gorgeous Dianchi Lake. The main chamber of the grottoes is not far away from the balcony. The name of the chamber, “the Datian Chamber” is carved above the entrance, and several words that intend to help people calm down are carved around it. The chamber is built to honor several primary Taoist Gods such as the God of Wisdom, the God of Literature, and the God of War (General Guan Yu). Their shrines are placed at the centre of the chamber. If you are careful enough, you will notice that the brush pen in the God of Wisdom’s hand had been repaired before. There is a sad story behind it. It is said that a stonemason who took part in building the grottoes accidently broke the brush as soon as he finished the statue of the God of Wisdom. He was so self-accused for leaving a flaw on this marvelous statue that later he jumped from a nearby cliff and killed himself. Apart from the statues of Taoist Gods, there are beautiful frescos on the ceiling and the walls of the chamber. On the ceiling of it, there carves a vivid picture of auspicious clouds and crowned cranes, and on the wall, a picture on running horses in the Heavenly Palace. The whole Longmen Grottoes is build inside a piece of giant rock. The unique design and refined craftsmanship of it represent the wisdom and diligence of the ancient Chinese people.
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