Nestled in sandstone cliffs, Yunya Temple blends centuries-old grottoes with breathtaking mountain scenery. [Photo/WeChat account: PLSWGJ]

Yunya Temple is a national 4A tourist attraction, a national forest park, and a provincial scenic resort in Zhuanglang county, Pingliang, Gansu province.

Located 28 kilometers east of the Zhuanglang county seat, the scenic area is renowned for its steep cliffs and soaring peaks, known as the "Four Terraces and Sixteen Peaks".

At the foot of the mountain lies the Zhulin Temple Reservoir, whose tranquil waters mirror the surrounding scenery. Bathed in the interplay of sunlight, shimmering water, drifting clouds and verdant peaks, the landscape has been hailed by international visitors as "the best-preserved jade on the Loess Plateau".

Perched on the sheer cliffs of the main peak, the Yunya Temple Grottoes were first carved during the early Taiping Zhenjun reign (440–451) of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). Dubbed "the culmination of China's later grotto art", they represent the final flourishing of China's large-scale grotto carving tradition. The Yunya Temple Grottoes hold significant historical and artistic value for the study of later Chinese grottoes and Buddhist art.