Yungang Grottoes reach 5 million visitors on 2 October

Yungang Grottoes in Datong, China, recorded more than five million visitors for 2026 on 2 October. The milestone concerns the annual visitor total at the Buddhist cave complex, while new conservation technology is operating in caves 9 and 10.

Yungang Grottoes pass five million visitors in October

The annual total passed five million at 11.19am on 2 October 2026, according to a report from Xinhua's Shanxi service. The figure arrived 23 days earlier than in 2025, when the site also passed five million visits.

The report said the scenic area prepared cultural gifts for the visitors who reached the milestone. It also described a light show using Yungang imagery on Datong's ancient city wall during the National Day holiday, but that programme ended on 7 October.

The five-million figure is an official visitor statistic, not a new ticket product or a separate festival. For travellers from Western Europe, the practical result inside the current period is that the grottoes remain a major visitor site in Datong, with the milestone providing a current reason to place a visit in context.

Xinhua's visitor report gives the date, place and annual total together.

New monitoring protects caves 9 and 10

The visitor milestone coincides with a conservation development inside the complex. A condensation monitoring and intelligent regulation system has been put into operation at the site, with a network installed in caves 9 and 10.

According to China Daily's conservation report, sensors measure temperature, humidity and wind speed from the cave entrances into the surrounding rock. Prediction models can warn of condensation before moisture appears on the stone surface.

The system combines natural and forced ventilation, dehumidification and temperature control. The report says its data indicates an effectiveness rate of more than 97 percent in suppressing condensation formation, linking the current visitor scale with the continuing need to protect the carved surfaces.

Datong's grottoes combine scale and Buddhist art

The complex contains 45 major caves and more than 59,000 statues. The carvings represent Buddhist cave art from the fifth and sixth centuries, and the site has UNESCO World Heritage status.

Yungang Grottoes entered the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2001. The conservation system in caves 9 and 10 therefore sits within a protected cultural landscape whose significance is tied to both the surviving sculptures and the rock in which they were made.

The site lies in Datong, in Shanxi province in northern China. Its visitor figure for 2026 and its conservation work describe two connected aspects of the same destination: public access to a large heritage complex and the technical measures needed to preserve it.

Visiting Yungang Grottoes: what travellers from Western Europe should know

• The visitor milestone was reached at Yungang Grottoes in Datong on 2 October 2026, when the annual total passed five million.
• The milestone report does not announce a special closure or altered cave route; caves 9 and 10 are the parts specifically linked to the new monitoring system.
• The complex is in Datong, Shanxi province, China, and comprises 45 major caves with more than 59,000 statues.
• The cave interiors contain carved Buddhist art from the fifth and sixth centuries, so visitors encounter enclosed heritage spaces rather than an open-air monument alone.
• Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.

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Frequently asked questions about Yungang Grottoes

When did Yungang Grottoes pass five million visitors?

The annual visitor total passed five million at 11.19am on 2 October 2026.

What is being protected at Yungang Grottoes?

A monitoring and regulation system operates in caves 9 and 10 to detect and manage condensation inside the rock.

Where is Yungang Grottoes and what is it?

It is a Buddhist cave complex in Datong, Shanxi province, China, with 45 major caves and more than 59,000 statues.