Bingling Temple
炳靈寺石窟 · 융징현
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Bingling Temple1:33
Welcome to the Bingling Temple Grottoes, an ancient sanctuary of Buddhist artistry carved directly into the dramatic crimson cliffs overlooking the Yellow River. As a scholar of Silk Road history, I am honored to guide you…
Listen in the app2The Journey Through Liujiaxia Reservoir — The Green Yellow River1:34
To reach Bingling Temple, one must first navigate the vast waters of the Liujiaxia Reservoir, a massive hydroelectric project on the Yellow River. From a geographical perspective, this area is a marvel of contrasts. …
Listen in the app3The Lower Temple District — A Thousand Years of Carvings1:31
Upon disembarking, you enter the Lower Temple district, the most accessible and concentrated area of the grottoes. The pathway leads you along the base of the Xiaojishi Mountain cliffs, where 216 individual caves and niches have…
Listen in the app4The Great Maitreya Buddha — The Iconic Colossus1:32
The undeniable centerpiece of Bingling Temple is Cave 171, which houses the 'Giant Maitreya Buddha'. Carved during the height of the Tang Dynasty, this colossal figure stands—or rather sits—at a staggering 27 meters tall…
Listen in the app5The Special Caves — 169 and 1721:32
High above the ground level, accessible only by a series of steep, modern staircases, are the 'special caves' 169 and 172. These are among the most important archaeological sites in all of Gansu. …
Listen in the app6Danxia Stone Forest — Nature's Fortified Castles1:25
While the temple itself is the main draw, the surrounding geological landscape—the Bingling Stone Forest—is equally 'awe-inspiring'. These Danxia landforms are composed of layers upon layers of purplish-red fine sandstone that…
Listen in the app7The Upper Temple and Sister Peaks — Legends in Stone1:21
Our final section takes us toward the Upper Temple and the famous 'Sister Peaks' (Zimei Feng). The Upper Temple is located further up the gully and, while less ornate than the Lower Temple, offers a 'unique perspective' on the…
Listen in the app8Closing1:21
As we conclude our journey through the Bingling Temple Grottoes, I hope you feel the same sense of 'awe at the sheer scale of Nature’s creation' and human devotion that has moved visitors for over sixteen centuries. We have…
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What is Bingling Temple?
Bingling Temple is a place in 융징현 with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | 융징현 |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Total length | 11 min 49 s in all |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 35.8055, 103.0444 |
| Last updated |