Maijishan Grottoes

Welcome to the Maijishan Grottoes, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of China's four greatest Buddhist cave complexes [37-39]. Located 45 kilometers southeast of Tianshui City in Gansu Province, this site is a literal museum…

Our ascent begins on the Western section of the cliff, which is widely considered the best-preserved part of the complex. As you climb the initial stairs, your eyes are immediately drawn to the massive 16-meter triad of Buddhas…

We now enter one of the most celebrated spaces at Maijishan: Cave 133. Historically, this cave was inaccessible for centuries due to the destruction of the original walkways by an 8th-century earthquake. …

Near the top of the haystack, 70 meters above the ground, we reach the Sanhua Lou, or the Seven Buddha Pavilion. This is currently the largest cave of its kind in China, featuring a grand corridor supported by eight massive…

As we navigate across the face of the cliff to the Eastern section, we encounter the Nirvana Cave. This area was also significantly affected by historical earthquakes, which split the central part of the mountain and left the…

Looking further afield in the Tianshui grotto corridor, we see the influence of Maijishan radiating outward to sites like Gangu Daxiang Shan. From the upper levels of Maijishan, on a clear day, you can appreciate how this site…

Returning to the base of the mountain, we can take a shuttle bus or walk through the dense forest that surrounds the grottoes. This area, part of the Xiaolong Mountains, is surprisingly green compared to the more arid regions of…

As we conclude our tour of the Maijishan Grottoes, take a moment to absorb the profound sense of continuity that permeates this site. We have scaled the haystack-shaped cliff, witnessed the 'Oriental Smile' in Cave 133, and…