Xiangtangshan Caves 响堂山石窟

About Xiangtangshan Caves

The northern group on Mount Gu contains large central-pillar chambers, while other groups occupy separate sites. Look at the relationship between the carved walls, niches and supporting pillars, and at the empty or damaged spaces left by sculpture removed in the early twentieth century. That absence is part of the site's history: many fragments now survive in museum collections abroad.

The caves were begun in the Eastern Wei and mainly carved during the Northern Qi in the sixth century, with further repairs and additions made through the Sui, Tang, Song, Jin, Yuan and Ming dynasties. The southern group's caves were begun in 565 under the monk Hui Yi of Linghua Temple and continued under the patronage of Gao Anahong, king of Huai Ying, with work ending around 577 when the Northern Qi was annexed by the Northern Zhou.

The complex comprises three groups about 15 kilometres apart: the northern caves on Mount Gu (鼓山) near Hecun village, the southern caves near Zhifang village on the Fuyang River (滏阳河), and the smaller Shuiyusi (水浴寺) caves. A 2025 survey by Handan recorded 19 main caves, 4 cliff-carved niches and 37 small niches, with 5,869 carved images in total, along with Northern Qi stone-inscribed Buddhist scripture.

Xiangtangshan was designated a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (全国重点文物保护单位) in 1961. From around 1910, dealers chiselled Buddha heads, hands and reliefs from the walls for sale abroad; pieces are now held by museums including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Freer Gallery of Art. Locals later added replacement clay and stone heads so worship could continue.

What to look for

• Northern-group Cave 7, a large central-pillar chamber with an elevated niche.
• The different chamber layouts of Caves 4 and 2, alongside surviving carving and the scars of removed sculpture.

Location & getting there

Getting to Xiangtangshan Caves

For the northern group, go to North Xiangtangshan on Mount Gu near Hecun in Handan's Fengfeng district.

• The northern, southern and Shuiyusi groups are separate locations; confirm which site your transport or ticket arrangement serves.