In 494 AD the Northern Wei Dynasty moved its capital from Datong to Luoyang. At Datong the dynasty had built the impressive Yungang Caves. Now in Luoyang the dynasty commenced work on the Longmen Caves.
Over the next 200 years more than 100,000 images and statues of Buddha and his disciples were carved into the cliff walls on the banks of the Yi River, 16 km south of the city.
Cave 19 was built between 672 and 675 AD during the Tang Dynasty. Awesome in size and expression, one of the statues -- the central seated Buddha -- is 17 m high.