Located at the southern foot of Wuzhou Mountain 16 kilometers west of Datong, Shanxi province, the Yungang Grottoes were built against the mountain and extend about 1 kilometer from east to west. The construction of the caves was started under the auspices of the noted monk Tan Yao in 453 and took 50 years to complete.[China.org.cn/Photo by Liu Shaomin ]