Yungang Grottoes Cave 18 closes for maintenance, rest of site stays open

On Monday, local authorities closed one of the caves at the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi province, due to leaks resulting from excessive rainfall.

According to CCTV News, the Datong region has experienced continuous rainfall totaling over 810 millimeters since the beginning of this year, significantly exceeding the average annual precipitation. This has led to localized water seepage in some of the grottoes.

Visitors to the grottoes have captured images and videos showing water leaking onto the face and neck of the Buddha statue in Cave 18. Low temperatures had frozen the drip into icicles around the statue's nostrils.

Monday's closure will give the Yungang Research Institute time to conduct a detailed survey of cracks in the cave ceiling and scientifically address the water seepage issue. Efforts will focus on disease investigation, geophysical exploration, and the installation of protective measures against rainwater.

Cave 18 is a classic masterpiece of Yungang Grottoes art, characterized by its oval-shaped dome and symmetrical statue layout. The sculptures showcase the majestic style and high level of multi-ethnic art exchange during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). They hold significant historical, artistic, and research value.

While Cave 18 is closed for maintenance, the remaining areas of the Yungang Grottoes will continue to be open to the public.