Ladies and gentlemen，
Welcome to Longmen Grottoes．They are located in the south of Luoyang City．They are
between Mount Xiang and Mount Longmen and face Yi River．Longmen Grottoes，Yungang Caves and Mogao Caves are regarded as the three most famous treasure houses of stone inscriptions in China．The grottoes were started around the year 494 when Emperor Xiaowen of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534 A.D.) moved the capital to Luoyang．Work on them continued for another 400 years until the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127 A.D.)．The first caves of Longmen were excavated in 494，the 12thyear of the Northern Wei Dynasty Xiaowen Emperor's reign．The grottoes extend for some 1,000 meters (about 1,094 yards) from north to south．They contain over 2,300 holes and niches，2,800 steles，40 stupas，1,300 caves and 97,000 sculptured figures that have survived the test of time．Most of these works date from the Northern Wei Dynasty and the flourishing age of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.)．Lots of historical materials concerning art, music, religion, calligraphy, medicine, costume and architecture are stored in the Longmen Grottoes．
Fengxian Temple
Fengxian Temple was built in the Tang Dynasty and it is the largest grotto in Longmen Grottoes with a width of 36 meters (about 118 feet) and a length of 41 meters (about 136 feet)．There are nine major figures of various facial appearances and temperaments in the temple that were built in accordance with Buddhist rites by the artists．The most impressive figure is the statue of Vairocana Buddha sitting cross-legged on the eight-square lotus throne．It is 17.14 metres (about 56 feet) high；the head alone is four meters (about 1 3 feet) high，and the ears are nearly 2 meters (about 6 feet) long．Vairocana means illuminating all things in the sutra．The Buddha has a well-filled figure，a sacred and kindly expression and an elegant smile．According to the record on the epigraph，the Empress Wu Zetian together with her subjects took part in the ceremony of Introducing the Light (a Buddhist blessing that the Buddha opens the spiritual light of himself and shares it with others)．At the sides of Vairocana there are two statues of Vairocana Buddha’s disciples，Kasyapa and Ananda，wearing prudent and devout expressions. The figures of Bodhisattvas and Devas can also be found in the temple．Some have dignified and genial expressions，while others are majestic and fiery. The various appearances and delicate designs are the representations of the Tang Empire’s powerful material and spiritual strength and the wisdom of its people.
Wanfo cave
The Wanfo Cave which was completed in 680，is a typical cave of the Tang Dynasty of two rooms and square flat roofs．Its name is due to the 15,000 small statues of Buddha chiseled in the southern and northern walls of the cave．The main Buddha Amida sits on the lotus throne，having a composed and solemn face．The wall behind Amida is carved with 54 lotuses，upon which there are 54 Bodhisattvas in different shapes and with various expressions．In addition，very pretty and charming lifelike singers and dancers are also chiseled on the wall．The singers are accompanied by various kinds of instruments and the dancers dance lightly and gracefully to the music，giving the cave a lively and cheerful atmosphere．A 85 centimeter high statue of Kwan-yin holding a pure bottle in his left hand and a deer’s tail—a symbol of brushing off the dust in Spirit—in right hand is on cave’s southern outsider wall．This figure is well designed and is regarded as the Longmen Grottoes’best example of a Tang Dynasty Bodhisattva statue.
Guyang Cave
Guyang Cave is the oldest cave in Longmen Grottoes．There are three tiers of niches on the northern and southern wall of the cave，in which are hundreds of statues，and most of the statues are engraved with the names of the artists，the dates and the reasons for carving them．The sculptures are of diverse shapes and patterns that are representations of the Gandhara Art style after the grotto art transmitted to Luoyang. A stature of Sakyamuni is situated in the middle and is nearly 8 meters (about 26 feet) high. Nineteen of the most famous Twenty Calligraphies are found in Guyang Cave. The Twenty Calligraphies represent the Wei style steles, which are the Longmen Grottoes’ basic stele calligraphies.
Binyang Cave
After constructing the Guyang Cave, the royalty of the Northern Wei Dynasty carved out a series of larger scale caves, which are the northern, southern, and middle Binyang Caves. The middle cave took the longest time to complete (from 500 to 523) and is the only one of the three finished during Northern Wei period. There are 11 big statues in the cave. Sakyamuni is of dignified and serene appearance, while this disciple and Bodhisattva are of slender figure and elegant look, which are the typical style of the late Northern Wei Dynasty. The floor is engraved with lotus patterns and on the rooftop is a flourishing lotus flower relief.
Lotus Cave (Lianhua Cave)
Chiseled grottoes on the base of the natural limestone caves are also seen in Longmen, and the Lotus Cave is one of them. Unlike the sitting statues, Sakyamuni is of standing figure, showing that he has trudged a long distance to develop Buddhism from India to China. A huge relief of a well sculpted lotus flower is engraved on the dome, with a seed bud in the center and petals of honeysuckle patters circling around. Around the lotus are six flying musicians with vivid gestures, as if they are dancing along with the melodies of the music.
Xiangshan Temple
Xiangshan Temple，which is ranked the first among Longmen Grottoes’ten temples，is situated in the middle mountainside of the East Hill．The East Longmen Hill is teeming with spices and is therefore very fragrant smelling．It’s name，Xiangshan, means“Fragrant Hill”in Mandarin．The temple was also named Xiangshan Temple．The present Xianshan Temple was reconstructed during the Qing Dynasty in 1707 and this work was based on the old Temple’ design．In 2002，Xiangshan Temple was expanded on the basis of the Qing Xiangshan Temple by Longmen Grottoes Administration, with a newly constructed Bell and Drum Tower，Wing Room，as well as Halls of Mahavira and Nine Persons. In addition, the belfry, Hall of Arhats, Emperor Qianlong’s stele and palace, Wing-room, Jiang Jieshi and Song Meiling’s Villa, along with the stairs, plank roads and temple walls have all been rebuilt and restored．A new gate was constructed south of the temple．The temple takes on a new look today, and it is really a rare scenic world cultural landmark．
Bai Garden
The Bai Garden is located on Pipa Peak north of East Longmen Hill (Xiangshan Hill) and was
reconstructed by Tang Youzeng of the Qing Dynasty in 1709．The temple is surrounded by green pine trees and cypress, looking solemn and serene. It was designated a key site for protection at the state level by the State Council in 1961. The tomb of Bai Juyi is a round mound of earth, 4 meters high, with a circumference of 52 meters．In front of the tomb stands 2.8-meter-high tombstone，which reads，“The Tomb of Bai Juyi”．Bai Juyi’s family was originally from Taiyuan in Shanxi Province and then moved to neighboring Shaanxi Province．He lived from 772 to 846 A.D.，and his style name was Letian. Bai Juyi was one of the Tang Dynasty’s most outstanding poets and enjoyed great literary fame both in and outside of China．He held a number of high government posts and instructed a prince during his later years. After retiring，he came to Luoyang and made good friends with“Nine Persons of Xiangshan Hill”，who often composed and sang poems at the Longmen Grottoes. Meanwhile，he donated money for the construction of Xiangshan Temple. When Bai Juyi died, he was buried, in accordance to his will, in the present Bai Garden．The important scenic spots in the Bai Garden are the Tingyi, Cuiyue, Bai, and Songfeng Pavilions, Letian Hall, Bird’s Head Gate, Pipa Peak, Bai Juyi’s Tomb, Wogu Tablet, Poem Corridor, and Daoshi Reading Room．As a garden constructed according to style of the Tang Dynasty, it is both a tourist resort and a good place to pay homage to the great poet．
In addition, there is Prescription Cave that has about 140 prescriptions engraved on the walls，showing the achievements of ancient Chinese medicine．Some of the prescriptions are still used today．Other caves and temples like Xiangshan Temple, Huangfu Cave, and Qianxi Temple can also be found at the Longmen Grottoes．
Well, my friends，Longmen Grottoes’s visit nearly come to an end，and I have to say goodbye to you a11．Anyway I am very glad to have spent such a happy and unforgettable day with you. Welcome you to come here again for sightseeing．Thank you all! Have a happy journey! Goodbye!
各位朋友大家好! 我們現在要去參觀遊覽龍門石窟。龍門石窟位於河南省洛陽市南郊，處於香山(東)、龍門山(西)兩山之間，面朝伊水。它同甘肅的敦煌石窟、山西大同的雲岡石窟並稱中國古代佛教石窟藝術的三大寶庫。龍門石窟開鑿於北魏孝文帝遷都洛陽 (公元494年) ，直至北宋前後延續四百多年。龍門石窟南北長約1000米，現存洞和窟共2300個，窟龕2800個，佛塔40餘座，石窟1300多個，佛像97000餘尊。絕大部分是北魏和盛唐時期的作品。大量涉及藝術、音樂、宗教、雕刻、醫藥、服飾和建築的歷史材料被保存在龍門石窟中。
奉先寺
奉先寺是龍門唐代石窟中最大的一個石窟，長為41米，寬為36米。在寺中，藝術家塑造了9個相貌、氣質各異的佛教神像。最能給人留下印象的是正中盧舍那佛的叉腿坐像。這個佛像身高17.14米，頭高4米，耳朵長1.9米。盧舍那意即光明遍照。這尊佛像豐頤秀目，嘴角微翹，呈微笑狀。據造像銘載，女皇武則天曾親率朝臣參加了盧舍那佛的“開光”儀式。在盧舍那佛兩側有兩尊佛像，他們是迦葉和阿難。這兩位菩薩衣飾華麗，端莊而矜持。天王和力士也能從寺中找到，有的嚴肅威武而碩壯有力，有的堅毅勇猛而無所畏懼。這些形神兼備、惟妙惟肖的佛像，反映了唐帝國強大的物質和精神力量，也反映了唐代人民高超的技藝和智慧。
萬佛洞
萬佛洞完工於公元680年，前後兩室，有一平頂廣場，是典型的唐代建築。它因洞內南北兩壁雕刻的一萬五千多尊小佛像而得名。正壁主尊阿彌陀佛高約4米，頭飾波狀髮髻，面相豐滿圓潤，結跏趺坐於八角形束腰須彌蓮花座上，神情安詳肅穆。後壁刻着五十四枝蓮花，每枝蓮花上各坐一尊菩薩或供養人，構思新穎奇特。南北兩壁壁基雕有多尊伎樂人和舞者。伎樂人手持各種樂器，形象生動傳神，似乎已陶醉在自己奏出的天籟之聲中。舞者婀娜多姿，衣袂飄飄，彷彿正在精心演繹最曼妙的舞蹈。整個洞窟營造了一種西天極樂世界裏歌舞昇平，萬人成佛的場景。洞外南壁雕有觀世音菩薩像，勻稱適度，右手執麈尾，左手提淨瓶，表現了“萬法皆空歸南海，一塵不染淨禪心”的佛家至高境界。這個佛像設計精美，是唐石刻觀音菩薩的傑作。
古陽洞
古陽洞是龍門石窟中開鑿最早的.一座洞窟。古陽洞北側牆壁上排列了三層大型佛龕，裏面很多佛龕造像，這項佛龕造像多有題記，記錄了當時造像者的姓名、造像年月及緣由，這些都是研究北魏書法和雕刻藝術的珍貴資料。這些題記的式樣和風格代表了隨後傳至洛陽的魏碑體。一尊高7.82米的釋迦牟尼像安坐在洞窟中央。舉世聞名的“龍門十二品”中古陽洞獨佔十九品。“龍門十二品”代表北魏“秀骨清像”造像風格，是龍門石窟的精髓所在。
賓陽洞
興建古陽洞之後，北魏王室又建造了一系列大型洞窟，那就是賓陽北洞、賓陽南洞和賓陽中洞。賓陽中洞從公元500年開鑿直到523年停工，是三洞中唯一在北魏時期完成的。洞中有11尊大佛像，主佛釋迦牟尼表情温和，神采飄逸，體態修長，面容清瘦，造像手法是典型的北魏後期的風格。賓陽中洞的地面雕刻着大型蓮花，周邊是蓮花花瓣、水波紋和其他裝飾圖案，如同鮮豔美麗的地毯式樣子。
蓮花洞
龍門石窟中也有基於自然洞穴而雕刻成的石窟，蓮花洞便是其中典型一例。與一般的坐像不同，這裏的釋迦牟尼是站像，體現了他長途跋涉從印度往中國宣傳佛法之艱辛。穹隆頂上雕有一朵碩大精美的蓮花，花瓣朝外，每片都有不同的風格。圍繞蓮花，還有6個手捧果品、迎風飛翔的大型飛天浮雕，婀娜多姿，生動傳神，而天衣、雲彩隨着天女的舞動在翩飛飄揚。
香山寺
號稱“龍門十寺”之首的千年古剎香山寺位於龍門東山山腰。東龍門山因其香味而被稱為“香閣”，也稱香山，其寺便稱為香山寺。現有的香山寺是於清朝年間（公元1707年）在舊址上重建的。2002年，龍門管理局在清代香山寺的基礎上進行了擴建，包括興建了鐘鼓樓、大雄寶殿、廂房、門樓、觀景廊、蓮花池、南北山上步遊道等仿古建築；改建、維修了天王殿、羅漢殿、御碑亭、蔣宋別墅、衣缽塔等舊有建築。景區管理部門還對香山寺及龍門東、西兩山石窟周邊環境進行了清理。現在的香山寺已經恢復“危樓切漢，飛閣凌霄，石像七龕，浮屠八角”的風貌，確實是不可多得的美景。
白園
白園位於龍門東山（香山）琵琶峯，為清代唐友曾重建（公元1709年）。園內松柏葱鬱，景色清麗。1961年與龍門石窟一起被列為國家級重點文物保護單位。園內的白居易墓高4米，四周有52米長的圍牆。在墓前有一高2.8米的墓碑，上刻有“白居易之墓”。白居易，字樂天，祖籍山西太原後遷至陝西，生於公元772年，卒於公元846年。作為我國唐代著名詩人之一，白居易在國內外文學界都有較高聲譽。他在朝廷擔任多個職務，晚年曾為太師，告退後來到洛陽，與經常在龍門賦詩作曲的香山九老結為好友，並捐贈修建香山寺。他死後，人們按其意願將他葬於白園。白園建有清谷、聽伊亭、樂天堂、白亭、鳥頭門、道時書屋、詩廊、翠樾亭等仿唐建築，是一個緬懷偉大詩人的優美景點。
這裏還有藥王洞，牆壁上刻有140個藥方，體現了中國古代的醫學成就。有些藥方沿用至今。其他的洞和寺廟如皇甫洞和潛溪寺等也在龍門石窟中。
好了，各位遊客，龍門石窟參觀活動就要結束了，歡迎大家有機會再到這裏參觀旅遊，謝謝! 再見!
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