The Longmen Grottoes are a UNESCO World Heritage site located just south of Luoyang in Henan province, China. Carved into the steep limestone cliffs along the Yi River, this massive complex contains over 2,300 caves and niches housing nearly 110,000 Buddhist stone statues. Construction began in 493 CE during the Northern Wei Dynasty and continued for over four centuries, showcasing the pinnacle of ancient Chinese stone carving art. The site's breathtaking centerpiece is the 17-meter-tall Vairocana Buddha at Fengxian Temple, which is historically believed to be modeled after Empress Wu Zetian of the Tang Dynasty.