The Chantashan Grottoes in Yuanzhou district, Ningxia, which was constructed in the Northern Wei dynasty, is an important cultural heritage site on the northern route of the east section of the Silk Road. The origins of the grottoes are related to the Xumishan Grottoes to a certain extent, the combination, structure, and functions of the caves in particular show influence from the grottoes in Kucha region. The discovery of these grottoes are very important for studying the eastward transmission of Buddhism and the exchanges and blending of Chinese and western cultures.
