Gongxian Grottoes are divided into five caves. Except for the fifth cave, the other four caves are all square, with a central column (the ceiling is very different from Yungang and Longmen Grottoes), and statues are carved on all sides of the column (mostly one Buddha and two disciples and two bodhisattvas). There are flat chess, lotus flowers and flying reliefs carved on the top of the cave. The face of the Buddha statue is Fiona Fang, with sparse and smooth clothing lines and quiet expression, which is different from the deep eyes, high nose and clear bones of Yungang Grottoes in the early Northern Wei Dynasty. Inside the gate, there are carved' Empress Dowager Cixi' on both sides, Buddha statues and Buddhist stories on the other three walls, and gods, monsters and musicians on the walls. Among them, there are * * * pictures after the emperor 18 pictures, and there are 15 existing pictures, with many figures and lively scenes, which can quite reflect the religious activities of the royal family. From Sanmenxia City in the west to Luo Yi Estuary in the east, there is a natural barrier on the south bank of the Yellow River, which is the famous Mangshan Mountain. Mangshan has neither mountains nor forests. It is a loess ridge with few rocks and water and sparse vegetation. Strangely, however, this sleeping python-shaped soil ridge reaches Wuhuali in the north of Gongxian old city, where it stands like a mighty Hercules, and is called Dali Mountain. It is backed by the Yellow River, facing Ilo, with winding peaks, flowing springs, lush trees and lush bamboo forests. Contrary to Mangshan's lack of stones, a huge knife-like gray-yellow rock is exposed at the foot of Dali Mountain, forming cliffs one by one. Gongxian Grottoes are carved on this natural stone wall. There is a temple in front of the grottoes, which was built in Xiping, Northern Wei Dynasty for two years (5 17). It was originally named "Xixuan Temple", but in the second year (500 ~ 503), Emperor Xuanwu began to "cut stones into grottoes and carve thousands of Buddha statues". At the beginning of the Tang Dynasty, it was named "Jingtu Temple" and changed to "Cave Temple" in the Qing Dynasty. The Eastern and Western Wei Dynasties, the Northern Qi Dynasty, the Sui Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty and the Northern Song Dynasty successively dug caves and statues here. Now it is listed as a national key cultural relics protection unit and a tourist attraction.
There are five grottoes, 1,000 shrines, 255 small shrines, three cliff statues, 7,743 large and small stone statues, and more than 200 inscriptions. Gongxian Grottoes are not as magnificent as Yungang Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes, but they are good at being small, precise and lifelike. The fifth cave is the smallest, 3.2 meters square and 3 meters high, and there is no central pillar in it. At the top of the cave is an algae well, with a blooming lotus in the center, six flying skies around it, four patterned metabudas in the four corners and honeysuckle patterns in the middle. The composition is perfect and rich. There are five Buddha statues carved above the inner wall of the cave gate, and one standing Buddha carved on each side, standing solemnly on the lotus seat. The other three walls have a big Buddhist shrine. King Kong is carved on both sides of the outer wall of the cave gate. The lintel of the pointed arch is engraved with honeysuckle patterns. There are many statues, shrines and inscriptions of the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Eastern Wei Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty on both sides. There are nine pagodas carved on both sides, and the three floors below are pavilions. There are Buddha statues on every floor, so pagodas are rare.