Chinese grottoes, such as Dunhuang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, and so on, are renowned at home and abroad. While Sichuan Grottoes, which are called “the second half of Chinese grotto history, remain unknown.

　　Recently, Discussion on Sichuan and Chongqing Grottoes and Caves Protection Projects organized by Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage has been held in Chengdu. Experts from China reached a consensus that Sichuan Grottoes, the widest distribution and the largest in number, should integrate with Chongqing Dazu Rock Carvings, one of the world's cultural heritage to be protected wholly in order to pass down cultures and boost economic development. On March, 2015, the full investigations on Sichuan and Chongqing Grottoes will be officially launched.

　　Rich resources: the largest number of grottoes in China

　　"Few people know that Sichuan Grottoes have the largest number of grottoes in China, amounting to 5973.” According to Lei Yuhua, director of Chengdu Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology and Institute of Buddhism Archaeology, the art of Sichuan Grottoes initiated from the late period of Northern Dynasty and bloomed in Tang Dynasty. After An Lushan Rebellion during the late Tang Dynasty, not only the emperors but also painters and artists and so on took refuge in Sichuan. Therefore, in Guangyuan and Bazhong in the north, Anyue and Luxian in the southeast, as well as Qionglai and Danling in Chengdu Plain, grottoes were everywhere. In Song Dynasty, two grotto centers at Anyue and Dazu emerged.

　　The statues in these grottoes not only have rich cultural meanings but also keep some historical records. Lei Yuhua revealed that the Buddhism statues denoted by Princess Yonghe, the daughter of Emperor Suzong of Tang Dynasty, still exist in Guangyuan Guanyin Cliff. Governor Zhang Wei, fleeing to Sichuan with Emperor Xizong of Tang Dynasty, denoted to build the Daju Statue at Bazhong.

　　Lei Yuhua thinks that Guangyuan is the first stop of grotto art into Sichuan, Qionglai remains as the most important grotto center in Chengdu Plain, Anyue exists the fire to light grottoes of China in the Five Dynasties as well as the representations of grottoes in Song Dynasty. “Until now, the tradition of caving also exist in Dazu, Chongqing and Anyue, Sichuan.

　　Fine arts: extraordinary shapes and decorations

　　The exquisiteness of Sichuan grottoes arts are extraordinary and diversified with a lot of geographical uniqueness.

　　According to Gao Dalun, director of Sichuan Academy of Cultural Heritage, giant Buddhas are common in Sichuan Grottoes. Leshan Giant Buddha is the largest carved Buddha in the world. The Nirvana Statue of Buddha at Anyue is 23 meters in total, the longest ancient stone reclining Buddha in China. Besides, there are numerous boutiques of Song Dynasty. The cutting statues of Sichuan Moya lasted from the early Song Dynasty to the late period of Southern Song Dynasty and are located at the southeastern Sichuan. These statues have complex decorations with exquisite and skilled carving techniques.

　　Apart from the large number of Buddha statues, Sichuan and Chongqing Grottoes also have loads of Taoist statues. Lei Yuhua said that the Taoist statues at Renshou and Anyue are also unique in China.

　　However, Sichuan has gravel geographical conduction and gravel is soft and vulnerable to weathering damage. Due to scattering distribution and lacking of funds, only a small number of protection units of Sichuan Grottoes are equipped with good protection measures and ancillary facilities. Numerous priceless treasures can not be protected effectively.

　　Going global: urgent protection needs for treasures

　　In 1999, Dazu Rock Carvings was enlisted as world cultural heritage. The statue of Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva, which had suffered from fast weathering, was protected in the first project of national stone relics of State Administration of Cultural Heritage involved with experts from Italy and Germany. Sichuan has summed a number of mature technologies through cooperating with Italy and so on and exploring actively in aspects such as cultural relics protection, caving eave construction, and environmental improvements and so on.

　　"The integral protection of Sichuan and Chongqing Grottoes is feasible from the point of technology.” Lei Yuhua told the reporter. The integral protection is not ringing up cultural relics. The experts who attended Discussion on Sichuan and Chongqing Grottoes and Caves Protection Projects appealed that the protection of Sichuan Grottoes could follow the method of southeastern ancient buildings of Jin Dynasty. The integral protection includes investigations and research protection as well as plannings for cultural heritage to serve society.

　　Experts think that in terms of number and grade of Sichuan grottoes arts, Sichuan Grottoes are well worth fully packing and promoting. Lei Yuhua said that even at the places where grottoes scatter such as Anyue, the enhancements of receiving ability and scientific planning of tourism routes would increase tourists. These grottoes will finally be the carriers of cultural heritage and new driving force of local economic development.

　　Impressive numbers

　　5,973

　　There are 5,973 grottoes in Sichuan, ranking first in China.

　　31

　　31 grottoes and Moya statues are listed as 7 batches of national important protection units.

　　7,000

　　Taking Guangyuan Thousand Buddha Cliff, Sichuan Grottoes arts have protected 873 grottoes and 7,000 statues of Buddha.