Caves of the Echoing Mountain

(Local Name: Xiangtangshan Shiku) There are sixteen of these caves, which are to be found on Mount Shigushan some 25km/15.5mi southwest of Handan. Seven lie in the southern foothills and nine on the west side 15km/9mi away. The largest cave is 13.3m/44ft wide and 12.5m/41ft deep. The first caves were dug in the 6th C and the latest during the Ming period (1368-1644). In all they contain about 3,400 statues; the Cave of a Thousand Buddhas (Qianfo Dong) alone is home to 1028 figures and many high-relief carvings.