[PHOTO/CHINA BOUND]

At the Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, Ningxia, carved since the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), colossal Buddha statues emerge from red cliffs. Sunlight washes over the rock face, casting a warm glow on ancient forms. Weathered by time, each carving bears witness to cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, as well as the devotion and quiet ingenuity of ancient artisans.