Overseas Content Creators Explore Anyue Grottoes: Capturing the Millennia-Old Stone Carving Legacy Through Foreign Lenses
June 20, 2026— The 2026"Foreign Eyes on Stone" Creation Tour kicked off in Anyue. International students and overseas social media influencers from Russia, Pakistan, Morocco, Cuba, Tajikistan and other countries gathered here for an immersive exploration of the grottoes.
The tour opened at Yuantong Cave Scenic Area, a landmark home to time-honored stone carvings. The international creators got an up-close look at the scenic spot’s iconic stone relics and appreciated the timeless aesthetics of ancient stone art from a unique global perspective. They later visited the Digital Exhibition Center, Huayan Cave, Mingshan Temple, Pilu Cave and other core sites. Armed with cameras, they captured the charm of Bashu stone carvings and crafted short videos for overseas social media platforms, bridging thousands of miles to share the millennia-old grotto culture with the world.
Yuantong Cave stands as one of Anyue Grottoes’ most representative stone carving sites dating back to the Tang, Five Dynasties and Northern Song dynasties. Carved layer upon layer into cliff faces, its art blends the full, grand style of Tang Dynasty craftsmanship with the elegant subtlety of Song aesthetics. The Twelve Enlightened Bodhisattva statues and the Vase Guanyin are the scenic area’s crowning treasures. At the heart of the main cave sits Vairocana Buddha, flanked by the Twelve Enlightened Bodhisattvas lining both walls, each bearing distinct, serene expressions. Beside them stands the Vase Guanyin, her graceful, soft posture and flowing, intricately carved robes showcasing unparalleled craftsmanship. Every delicate line embodies the gentle artistic flair and supreme sculptural mastery unique to Bashu stone art. The seamless fusion of unspoiled cliff rock and age-old statues left the overseas creators lingering to admire the singular beauty of Eastern stone art.
Lianet, a Cuban international student, spent the whole session filming fine details of the Twelve Enlightened Bodhisattvas and Vase Guanyin, singing high praises for the delicate, graceful statues.“This is the softest, most vivid stone art I have ever seen. Each of the twelve bodhisattvas carries a unique demeanor, quiet yet powerful. The folds of Vase Guanyin’s robes and her lifelike facial features are carved with meticulous precision, completely shattering my previous stereotypes of ancient stone carvings. I must share this gentle, timeless Eastern charm with online audiences overseas.”
Smiya, a Moroccan student, shared similar sentiments:“The statues at Yuantong Cave lack the heavy solemnity typical of religious monuments; instead, they radiate soothing beauty. Song Dynasty artisans used refined carving techniques to shape the gentle bearing of bodhisattvas. Minimalist chiseling yields tremendous artistic resonance, and these thousand-year-old stone figures still feel vivid and alive. This is the romance and profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture.”
Digital Exhibition Hall: A New Medium for Cultural Heritage
Overseas Creators Praise China’s Innovative Heritage Conservation
The tour balanced high-tech digital displays with remote mountain grottoes, offering international creators a complete journey to understand Anyue’s stone carvings. The group first visited the Anyue Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center. Holographic projections and digital restoration technology bring over 100,000 cliff statues scattered across rural hills into one cohesive display. Damaged sculptures are digitally reconstructed to restore their original Tang and Song appearances, tracing the full millennium-long evolution of stone carving art. The innovative exhibition format wowed every overseas creator.
Lingyu, a Moroccan student, filmed every ray of light and shadow in the exhibition hall nonstop.“I only learned about Chinese grottoes sporadically from textbooks before. Digital technology breathes new life into the dormant stone carvings of Anyue, and the restored statues deliver striking visual impact. I plan to edit an educational short film to share with young audiences across North Africa.”
Aisha, a Russian content creator specializing in cultural travel videos who has visited many famous grottoes worldwide, was deeply impressed:“This digital model for cultural heritage preservation and exhibition is truly one-of-a-kind. I will dedicate a full video episode to introduce global audiences to China’s creative approach to safeguarding historic relics.”
Ancient Cliff Carvings Amid Wild Hills: Timeless Charm Unfolds
Diverse Perspectives Spark Cross-Cultural Artistic Resonance
Leaving the digital exhibition hall behind, the tour ventured into remote mountain grotto clusters including Huayan Cave, Mingshan Temple and Pilu Cave. Stripped of digital technology, the cliff statues hidden among rolling hills carry an unpolished, weathered ancient beauty forged by centuries of time. Huayan Cave boasts grand, imposing sculptures; Mingshan Temple’s stone carvings nestle amid ancient trees, bathed in soft light that evokes profound Zen tranquility; the Bamboo Guanyin at Pilu Cave, with her elegant, flowing silhouette, became the focal point of every creator’s lens.
Ali, a Pakistani influencer, lingered long before the Bamboo Guanyin, filming from every angle.“This statue is soft and dynamic, breaking the common perception of rigid, solemn religious sculptures. My country also preserves ancient stone carvings, and standing here, I truly feel a cross-border artistic bond shared by craftsmen of ages past. I have already drafted content comparing the stone carving aesthetics of our two civilizations.”
Mia and Baiyun, two Moroccan students, wandered through Mingshan Temple, captivated by the seamless harmony between mountain forests and ancient stone statues.“These carvings are not sealed behind high walls; local residents have guarded these relics for generations. The interplay of history and nature strikes a deeply moving chord.”
A Tajikistani influencer noted that overseas social media platforms feature almost no comprehensive content on Anyue Grottoes. This tour fills that void, letting global audiences discover the distinctive artistic value of southern Chinese grotto art.
As night fell, the creators gathered to review footage and exchange filming ideas and short video scripts. They plan to produce multilingual videos in Russian, Arabic, English, Urdu and other languages covering digital heritage conservation, the artistic grace of the Bamboo Guanyin, and the coexistence of mountain grottoes and local communities, set for release across major overseas platforms.
Victoria, a Russian international student, reflected on her immersive tour:“Exploring these grottoes is like leafing through a thousand-year history book carved into cliff faces. Anyue’s stone carvings are far more than cold relics— they are cultural treasures nurtured by generations of craftsmen and local guardians. I will keep creating content to introduce Ziyang and Anyue to my followers abroad.” Multiple students from North Africa also stated they intend to invite fellow overseas creators back to Anyue for in-depth filming trips, continuing to spread the allure of the grotto culture.
Anyue is home to more than 100,000 cliff statues spread across over 300 grotto sites spanning multiple dynasties, representing the pinnacle of southern Chinese grotto art. Breaking away from traditional official promotional frameworks, this event leverages overseas creators’ down-to-earth, relatable storytelling and short-form video formats favored by global audiences to disseminate grotto culture. Grassroots collaborative content creation serves as a bridge for mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and foreign civilizations. Local authorities plan to regularly host creative tours for overseas influencers, ensuring this hidden stone carving gem nestled in central Sichuan’s rolling hills reaches more visitors around the globe.
By Li Qiang, Li Yue
Intern Reporters: Zhang Siyu, Kang Yinan
Translation：Sichuan University Aeel
Reviewed by：Liu Hongming from Xi'anTranslation Institute
