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云冈石窟与甘肃敦煌莫高窟、河南龙门石窟并称"中国三大石窟群"，也是世界闻名的石雕艺术宝库之一。云冈石窟位于中国北部山西省大同市以西16公里处的武周山南麓。石窟始凿于北魏兴安二年（公元453年），大部分完成于北魏迁都洛阳之前（公元494年），造像工程则一直延续到正光年间（公元520～525年）。石窟依山而凿，东西绵亘约1公里，气势恢弘，内容丰富。现存主要洞窟45个，大小窟龛252个，石雕造像51000余躯，最大者达17米，最小者仅几厘米。窟中菩萨、力士、飞天形象生动活泼，塔柱上的雕刻精致细腻，上承秦汉（公元前221年～公元220年）现实主义艺术的精华，下开隋唐（公元581～907年）浪漫主义色彩之先河。Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi is known as the most famous of the Chinese Buddhist grottoes, along with Mogao Grottoes and Longmen Grottoes, it is also one of the world's most famous stone carving art treasure houses. Located on the southern ridge of Wuzhou Mountain, 16 km away form Datong City in north China's Shanxi Province, Yungang Grottoes was firstly chiseled in the second year of the Northern Wei dynasty, or 453 AD and most of the work was finished before Northern Wei moved its court to Luoyang City in 494 AD. However, the endeavors of building it lasted until the Zhengguang Years from 520 AD to 525 AD.
The caves are chiseled against the mountain, extending about 1 km from east to west, showing a magnificent appearance and a wide range of themes. It is now composed of 45 caves and 252 grottoes of different sizes, and 51,000 statues and statuettes ranging from a few centimeters to 17 meters.
With vivid images of Bodhisattva, Hercules and Apsaras, and exquisitely delicate carvings on the column, Yungang Grottoes continues from the essence of realism art in the period of Qin and Han Dynasties (from 221 BC to 220 AD), and sets a precedent for romanticism in the period of Sui and Tang Dynasties (from 581 AD to 907 AD).
云冈石窟的造像气势宏伟，内容丰富多彩，堪称公元5世纪中国石刻艺术之冠，被誉为中国古代雕刻艺术的宝库。按照开凿的时间可分为早、中、晚三期，不同时期的石窟造像风格也各有特色。早期的"昙曜五窟"气势磅礴，具有浑厚、纯朴的西域情调。中期石窟则以精雕细琢，装饰华丽著称于世，显示出复杂多变、富丽堂皇的北魏时期艺术风格。晚期窟室规模虽小，但人物形象清瘦俊美，比例适中，是中国北方石窟艺术的榜样和"瘦骨清像"的源起。The grottoes are an outstanding example of the Chinese stone carvings from the 5th century. They are divided into three categories according to the time they were constructed, those in the early phase, middle phase and late phase respectively, with unique characteristics. For the early phase, the Five Grottoes in Tanyao is of tremendous momentum with a thick western flavor. Those in the middle phase are well known for its elaborate carvings and sumptuous decoration, showing the artistic style in the period of Northern Wei dynasty. Figures in the late phase are lean and handsome with a moderate proportion. Despite being small in scale, grottoes in this phase are models of stone carving art in north China and the origin of the sculpture prototype that is elegantly slender and rigorously simple.

丽江地区处于云南省西北部，全区面积2.06万平方公里。丽江境内群山起伏，全区山地面积占95%。由于地处高原，终年太阳照射较强，平均海拔为2400米。丽江境内有玉龙雪山、老君山两大山脉，其中，最高点为玉龙雪山主峰–扇子陡，海拔为5596米，是终年积雪的山峰。此外，金沙江、澜沧江二大水系，从丽江境内穿过。Covering an area of 20,600 square km, Lijiang is located in northwest Yunnan Province. Lijiang has a large area of mountains, accounting for 95 percent of the total area. Because of its position on a plateau, Lijiang boasts strong sunlight. Its average altitude is 2,400 meters. Two great mountain ranges, Yulong Snow Mountain and Laojun Mountain, lie in Lijiang. Shanzidou, the peak of Yulong Snow Mountain is the highest point, which is 5,596 meters above sea level. It is covered with snow all year round. In addition, two great river systems; Jinsha River and Lancang River, run through Lijiang.