[2025 Anyue Attraction] Travel Guide for Tapo Cliff Carvings (Updated Oct)

Head to Anyue Tapu this National Day and encounter the pinnacle of Northern Song aesthetics During the National Day holiday, Anyue Tapu is open, and I can't wait to embark on this date with historical aesthetics. Stepping into Tapu, the Northern Song stone carvings from a thousand years ago come into view. These are masterpieces left by artists at the peak of aesthetics. Even on a cloudy day, the statues still exude a compassionate, serene, simple, and exquisite aura—so beautiful that words are unnecessary, and all you want to do is snap photos like crazy. You can imagine how stunning it would be if the sun were shining in the evening, with light and shadow moving across the carvings. Although the Tapu statues are provincially protected, in my heart they are definitely of national protection level. Each statue is lifelike, with smooth lines and exquisite craftsmanship, making one marvel at the wisdom and skill of the ancients. Even more exciting, admission is currently free here. If you love historical sites and are fond of Song Dynasty aesthetics, why not visit during the National Day holiday? Remember to keep your phone and camera fully charged because every corner here is worth capturing, and every glance is a conversation with a thousand years of history.

| See the Northern Song Dynasty sunset at Tapo. Among the Tapo cliff carvings on the southern route of Anyue Stone Carvings, the most exquisite is the Huayan Three Saints of the Northern Song Dynasty in the main hall on the steps. It is not open now, but you can use a bench to lie on the windowsill and take a peek inside. Through the window lattice, you can see the three statues with plump faces, drooping eyes, peaceful and compassionate expressions, and exquisitely carved clothes. The Vairocana Buddha in the middle has a spiral bun and a crown, with the left hand wrapped around the right hand, forming a wisdom fist seal, commonly known as "blessing." The Manjushri Bodhisattva on the left is also a masterpiece, with the right hand resting on the knee, the left hand holding a Sanskrit book, and the curvature of the mouth is particularly intriguing. The Samantabhadra Bodhisattva on the right was added in the Qing Dynasty, and the difference is still obvious. Even more amazing is that the main hall faces west, and when the weather is clear and the sun sets, the sunlight gradually enters the main hall, from the feet of the statue, to the body, to the lips, to the nose, to the forehead, and finally returns to darkness, giving the statue divinity. There are some other statues in the backyard, which are not so worth seeing. 📍: Linfeng Township, Anyue, about 1 hour drive from Anyue County

Tapo is one of the sourest carvings in Ningmeng County. In my place, it is one of the four Vajras—Pilu Cave, Yuanjue Cave, Reclining Buddha Temple, and Tapo. I knew it was a bit famous, but I didn't know it was so famous. A remote mountain stone carving actually attracts endless tourists, and they come from all over the country. The small country road can't stop the car, after all, Tapo will not disappoint, even if it only has a small cave, it is definitely worth stopping for. For protection, Anyue built a hall to cover it, so the best time to go is early morning and evening, the morning glow and evening shadow, a touch of rosy clouds through the window lattice, as if the Buddha shows his true body. What kind of craftsmanship can carve such a Huayan Three Saints, let it go through a thousand years, only to increase loneliness, loneliness and vicissitudes. This hall only has the Huayan Three Saints, but it should be able to compete for the first three saints in the country. Even Qionglai Shijun Mountain can only look at its back. Its advantage lies in the five senses of Sakyamuni and Manjusri, the face is full of Tang Dynasty aesthetics, round and shy, looking down and obedient, looking at the clear heart, watching the soul, plus the more complicated crown on the complicated snail bun, the other side flower and the Tathagata Buddha, the flame backlight and the auspicious branches and leaves, the meaning is too complicated, less a lack of taste, just a worldly treasure! Why only talk about Sakyamuni and Manjusri, because the right hand side of Samantabhadra's head is tilted, the face does not know whether it was destroyed by WG or later fell off, Anyue invited modern craftsmen to reshape it, the plastic surgery failed, the car accident scene, put it next to Sakyamuni and Manjusri handled by the ancient master Wen's family, it is slightly respectful to say that it is horrible. The flaws do not hide the jade, the wind and frost of a thousand years make the clothes of the three saints fade away the gem-like color, but the spots of mottled color prove their long history. The old man at the door thoughtfully prepared a wooden ladder for the tourists to climb up the steps, which allows people to face these living cultural relics almost at zero distance. Although there are Houjiawan, Datong Temple, and Tianjiayan Cliff around, after seeing this place, the eyes will only remain the glory of the Huayan Three Saints. The grottoes must see Tapo, just like the original chicken must eat KFC, super five-star recommendation.