Pingyao ancient town in Shanxi province.[Photo by Wang Zhuangfei]

Of all the colourful tourist attractions our group was taken to on our "Discover Shanxi" trip with China Daily, the one I remember most vividly is the Yungang Grottoes in Datong city. The hutong-like shopping streets in ancient Pingyao are a common sight in Beijing, and China boasts many beautiful temples like those on Wutai Mountain.

However, the countless Buddhist stone carvings that adorn the walls of Yungang's holy caves make them the real jewel of Shanxi heritage for me. It is here that the traditional Chinese style of the Northern Wei Dynasty (AD 386–534) marries Indian Gandhara Buddhist art and it has remained preserved throughout the centuries.

I swivelled around trying to drink everything in. The smooth, pale stone outlined thick lips, open hands and slanted eyes once inlaid with precious stones. The faces of the statues gazed down at me from the higher levels of the caves and I felt like I were being scrutinized by wise old men.

Beautiful carvings dressed walls and ceiling, with paint reapplied during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) still bright. The cool breeze and earthy smell inside the caves made their long history very tangible.