Maijishan Grottoes

🌟 Three-day tour in Tianshui, explore the culture and scenery of Fuxi's hometown! 🌄 **Day 1: Maijishan Grottoes—Fuxi Temple** - **Morning**: 🏞️ Depart from the city center to the World Cultural Heritage site—Maijishan Grottoes. It's recommended to set off early to avoid the crowds and the scorching sun. - **Noon**: 🍜 Taste Tianshui's special noodle dishes, such as beef noodles and rolled noodles, at a restaurant near Maijishan Grottoes. "Maijishan Noodle House" is recommended. - **Afternoon**: 🏯 After visiting Maijishan Grottoes, head to Fuxi Temple to learn about the story of Fuxi, the cultural progenitor in ancient Chinese mythology. - **Evening**: 🍲 Return to the city center and taste more authentic snacks around Tianshui People's Square, such as lamb soup with bread and cold noodles. **Day 2: Tianshui Museum—Nanguo Temple** - **Morning**: 🏺 Visit Tianshui Museum, which houses a large collection of precious cultural relics, especially the sculpture of a horse galloping across a flying swallow. - **Noon**: 🍴 Find a well-reviewed restaurant in the city, such as "Qinzhou Old Street", to taste more local delicacies. - **Afternoon**: 🍃 Head to Nanguo Temple to experience the tranquility and solemnity of this thousand-year-old ancient temple. - **Evening**: ☕️ You can choose to continue exploring the food at Tianshui night market or enjoy a leisurely time in a coffee shop in the city. **Day 3: Immortal Cliff—Tianshui Folk Culture Expo Park** - **Morning**: 🏔️ Head to Immortal Cliff to explore this scenic area that combines natural and cultural landscapes. - **Noon**: 🍽️ Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Immortal Cliff scenic area and taste local specialty dishes. - **Afternoon**: 🎭 Visit Tianshui Folk Culture Expo Park to understand the folk culture and traditional handicrafts of the Gansu region. - **Evening**: 🚶 End your pleasant trip to Tianshui, return to the city center or head to the train station/bus station to prepare to leave. **Food Recommendations:** 1. **"Maijishan Noodle House"** - 🍜 Taste authentic noodle dishes such as beef noodles and rolled noodles. 2. **"Qinzhou Old Street"** - 🍴 Various Tianshui specialty dishes in an antique environment. 3. **Tianshui Night Market** - 🍢 Lamb soup with bread, cold noodles, barbecue skewers, and a variety of snacks are available. **Tips:** - 🌞 The climate in Tianshui is dry, please remember to hydrate and apply sunscreen. - 👟 Some attractions are quite large, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes. - 🍁 Respect local customs and keep the environment clean. Take this guide with you on your journey to Tianshui and experience the unique charm of this ancient city! ✨🌈

🚩Day one: 👉Morning: Ruiying Temple🛕 - Maiji Misty Rain🌧 👉Noon: Taste local delicacies, such as Tianshui Gua Gua😋, Tianshui Mixed Stew, etc. 👉Afternoon: Sanhua Tower🎇 - Immortal Cliff👼 - Thousand Buddha Corridor🧘‍♀️ 👉Evening: Check into a nearby hotel and rest 🚩Day two: 👉Morning: Niuer Hall🐂 - Seven Buddha Pavilion🛤 👉Noon: Taste specialty snacks, such as Jiangshui Noodles🍜, etc. 👉Afternoon: Wannian Hall🙏 - Jiling🕍 - Sky Bridge🎢 👉Evening: Enjoy the night view🌙 🚩Day three: 👉Morning: East Cliff🧗‍♂️ - West Cliff🧗‍♀️ 👉Noon: Have lunch in the scenic area 👉Afternoon: Prepare to return 👀Notice: 🎫Purchase tickets in advance 🚗Arrange transportation reasonably 🌅Pay attention to weather changes

YUQUAN TEMPLE 🌈Named for the 'Jade Spring' of the Yuan Dynasty. It boasts over 90 Taoist buildings and is known as the 'Number One Famous Temple in Southeastern Gansu'; Nanshan Scenic Area (Nanguo Temple) 🌈With a history of over a thousand years, it has been a favorite spot for poets and scholars throughout the ages. The great poet Du Fu wrote over 100 poems in praise of it during his visit. Tianshui Ancient City 🌈One of the largest and best-preserved residential courtyards from the Ming and Qing dynasties in the northwest region. It's better to go at night to see the night view. It's near the Fuxi Temple, and you can stay nearby at night and go directly to the Fuxi Temple the next day. An hour is enough Maijishan Grottoes 🌈Second only to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, it is China's second-largest art cave and is known as the 'Eastern Art Sculpture Gallery'. It is one of the four major grottoes. The Maijishan area is the most worthwhile place to spend time. You can view from a distance and climb the plank road for a detailed appreciation. Generally, it takes about two hours, but if you like sculpture and mural art, time is not a limit. ⭐️Transportation: About 100 yuan by taxi from Tianshui South Station, or you can take a bus Maiji Never Night City: Intangible cultural heritage folk customs, performances, snacks, fruits, nearly 200 stalls, experience the local night market. Tianshui City Industrial Museum 🌈Features a science and technology experience hall, time corridor, and industrial history museum, providing insight into the industrial development of Tianshui. Maijishan Grottoes 🌈95 RMB per person for advance reservation includes the grotto scenic area + sightseeing car, and is known as one of China's four major grottoes along with the Mogao Caves, Longmen Grottoes, and Yungang Grottoes Maijishan Grottoes--Immortal Cliff 🌈This section has a direct bus for 50 RMB per person (including round-trip direct bus + Immortal Cliff ticket + scenic area sightseeing car) ⭐️It is really recommended to buy this as it is convenient and time-saving, and the scenery of Immortal Cliff is really good with very few tourists. It consists of three cliffs, five peaks, and six temples, mainly touring the three cliffs you can climb the mountain following the route 'West Cliff--East Cliff--South Cliff' without taking the same way back and not missing any scenery Tianshui Botanical Garden (inside Maijishan) 🌈Not considered a separate attraction, there are ice waterfalls in winter, which are still worth seeing. It takes about half an hour to walk in and out, and if you're looking at the ice waterfalls, it will take a bit longer. It's inside Maijishan and worth a visit. North and South Houses (Hu Family Ancestral Home) 🌈After breakfast, it's just a few steps away. This is the only remaining official residence from the Ming Dynasty in the northwest region. Because there are two parts, south and north, it is also called North and South Houses. The South House is larger, and the North is slightly smaller. There is an underground passage connecting the North and South Houses, but unfortunately, it was not open when we visited. This place is open to the public for free~ Behind the North and South Houses is the Temple of Literature, one and a half to two hours is enough Fuxi Temple and Tianshui Museum 🌈The entrance fee for Fuxi Temple is 20 RMB, and it is open for free at certain times. There is a large square in front of the gate, which is probably the place for holding grand ceremonies. The dragon and phoenix window inside is from the Ming Dynasty and is very exquisite. The little red figures used for blessings on the trees in the temple are also quite interesting. Behind the Fuxi Temple is the Tianshui Museum, which is free to visit and can be accessed directly.

The Maijishan Grottoes are located in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, and are known as one of the four major grottoes in China, along with the Mogao Caves, Longmen Grottoes, and Yungang Grottoes. They have a history of more than 1600 years. I visited Maijishan once in 2005. At that time, the mountain trail was made of wood, and it creaked when stepped on, which was quite scary. This time, on the way back to Beijing from a self-driving tour in western Sichuan, I visited again and felt a lot of changes. First, the mountain trail has been reinforced. Second, the scale of the scenic area has expanded. Third, the service facilities have been improved. The only thing that hasn't changed is the more than 200 caves and more than 3,000 Buddha statues carved by ancient people on the mountain. The Maijishan Grottoes were photographed on August 2, 2023.

Maijishan Grottoes, one of the four major grottoes in China. If Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is the 'Great Gallery' in the Gobi, then Maijishan Grottoes is the 'Sculpture Museum' on the cliff. There are currently 221 grottoes in Maijishan Grottoes, with 3938 various statues of 10632 bodies, from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Two Song Dynasties, all showing different styles of statues and the continuation of statue craftsmanship over the ages. 📒: Unlike the grand style of Yungang and Longmen, the clay sculptures of Maijishan are restrained and gentle, full of the smell of the world. After the wind and frost, these excellent colored sculptures still shine. 📒: The ancients, with their devout faith, infused eternal beauty and Buddha nature into every Buddha statue in this grotto. Those worldly smiles, the smiles of the Buddha, carrying people's longing for a good ordinary life, are forever fixed in the grottoes of Maijishan in the depths of the Qinling Mountains. 🚗Travel: In addition to chartered platforms and self-driving, Tianshui has a special travel bus line. You can also find a taxi or a networked car, round trip, remember to bargain. If you book a homestay in the scenic area directly, the homestay owner will take you in. 🎫Ticket: The pass is 80 yuan and you can visit most of the caves, and some of the caves inside are charged separately. ⏰Opening hours 9:00-5:30, basically the staff of the scenic area will start to urge everyone to go out after five o'clock, and start clearing the field at half past five. ➡️Tour route Divided into 1 and 2 lines, line 1 has to climb stairs to a height of 84 meters, mainly ordinary caves; line 2 includes 2 special caves, the route is flat, suitable for fear of heights, with elderly children. Looking at the flow of people, 80% will choose line 1. Line 1 sees more caves, mainly concentrated in the downhill process. There are fewer caves on line 2, but you can see special caves, and the view of the three large caves is good. Judging from the broadcast in the scenic area, once it enters the holiday peak, it should be diverted like this. Non-peak is based on the ticket price of ordinary caves + separate special caves to visit. ➡️Tour time Maijishan has two ticket checks (at the entrance of the scenic area and at the entrance of the park) and one sightseeing car check. The sightseeing car journey is about 3.5 kilometers. Line 1 tour takes about 1.5 hours, and line 2 observation should not exceed 1 hour. ➡️Travel time It is recommended to set off at 7 o'clock, arrive at the sightseeing car entrance at 8 o'clock, queue for the sightseeing car for 5 minutes, queue for entry for 15 minutes, queue for diversion for 30 minutes, so that you can start the tour at 9 o'clock. If you come later between 9-10 o'clock, the parking lot of the scenic spot will be full and the road will be closed. You can only get off at the tourist distribution center, which means you have to take the scenic area bus to the entrance of the scenic area. It will take more time to queue at each point at least twice as much time. ➡️Do you need a tour guide Absolutely unnecessary. The tour guides soliciting customers at the entrance of the scenic area will only send them to the entrance of the hospital, don't expect them to climb stairs and queue with tourists.

🌈Friends, don't just know Tianshui for its hot and spicy soup! Here you can also explore the Maijishan Grottoes, one of China's four major grottoes. Plus, Tianshui's special cuisine is too numerous to count! With the climate just right, if you haven't been yet, hurry up and follow my lead to enjoy Tianshui! Remember to try to avoid the weekends~ 🚄Transportation: Direct high-speed train, smooth bus travel Tianshui's transportation is super convenient! Direct high-speed trains, and tourist lines have been opened between popular attractions, which is just too considerate! 🚌 🏨Accommodation: Comfortable and convenient near Fuxi Temple in Qinzhou District I recommend staying near Fuxi Temple in Qinzhou District, where dining and attractions are just a stone's throw away, and the prices are very people-friendly! 💸 🗺️Touring: Two days of non-stop excitement! 📆Day1: Explore the ancient charm of Tianshui, taste authentic cuisine From Tianshui South Station 👉 take a taxi directly to the antique street morning market (don't miss Master Wu's Gua Gua Noodles, Ye Ji's Apricot Tea, and other delicacies!) 👉 take bus No. 6 directly to Guangming Lane for food and fun (try Guangming Lane's cool skewers, Hou Ji's potato balls, and more!) 👉 explore Fuxi Temple 👉 walk to nearby streets to taste authentic Tianshui spicy hot soup 👉 in the evening, go for Fatty Fish Hotpot! 👉 at night, stroll and dine on Tianshui ancient street, feeling the charm of the ancient city at night. 📆Day2: Explore the grottoes, take in the natural scenery Take bus No. 34 directly to Maijishan Grottoes (for Line 1, it's recommended to choose Caves 133 and 127, absolutely stunning!) 👉 take bus No. 37/39 to Xianren Cliff 👉 then to Jingtusi 👉 note, the last bus No. 37 back to the city departs at 17:30, don't miss it! Lunch can be settled within the Maijishan Grottoes scenic area, with friendly prices and delicious food. Spend 2 hours at each scenic spot, about 1 hour by bus between spots, relaxed and fulfilling! 🍜Cuisine: The taste of Tianshui, a journey on the tip of the tongue In addition to the aforementioned delicacies, there are also special snacks such as pork fat boxes, spicy soup, and Mianwo waiting for you to try! Tianshui's spicy hot soup comes in a wide variety, Haiying, Yuannv, Eden... there's always one to satisfy your taste buds! 💡Tips: 1️⃣For friends interested in Taoism, consider taking a detour to Xianlong Palace in Yusheng Lane, a small and tranquil Taoist temple that will make you linger. 2️⃣Maijishan Grottoes now have Lines 1 and 2 for visiting, remember to book special caves in advance! Line 1 and Line 2 each have their own features, choose according to personal interest.

Maijishan Grottoes, a place I've longed for a long time. 😄 Everyone says that the expressions of the sculptures here are comparable to emoticons, which to me just feel more down-to-earth and lively. Some of the expressions on the sculptures seem to have appeared on the faces of neighbors' uncles and aunties as well. The grottoes mainly preserve clay sculptures, which have continuously evolved over the dynasties. From the early and late Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang to the Song dynasties. Despite my fear of heights, I still think it's very worthwhile to see these precious works of art. 📖 Maijishan Grottoes 📍 Located in Maijishan Scenic Area, Maiji Town, Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province 🚗 Take Tianshui bus routes 5, 16, 34, or 60 and get off at Maijishan Station. 💰 80 RMB per person (adult ticket, excluding ticket exchange with ID); sightseeing car round trip 15 RMB per ride

Last year, on my way to Xinjiang, I passed through Tianshui. At that time, her spicy hot pot was not as popular as it is now, otherwise I would definitely have to try a couple of bowls... I had watched some documentaries about the Maijishan Grottoes, and since I was passing by, I naturally had to visit the site in person. Let me share a few potentially useful tips: First, within the core area of the scenic spot, there are local villagers' homestays with decent conditions. Staying here, you can find the best spot to view Maijishan from a distance. Cars can be parked by their roadside (you might get a ticket, but the homestay owner said that for out-of-town cars, the first time is just a warning, with no points deducted or fine imposed). After all, the parking lot at the bottom of the scenic area is a certain distance from the entrance to the grottoes, and it's uphill. Getting up early allows you to visit first thing in the morning and avoid the crowds. Second, the more exquisite special caves of Maijishan Grottoes, like those in Dunhuang, have an additional charge per cave, and it's said that viewing all the special caves would cost over 2000 yuan. Third, most of the ordinary caves are also viewed through tight wire mesh, but there are some who have mastered the angles and can take complete photos through the tiny holes in the mesh. Fourth, those who are afraid of heights should proceed with caution when visiting, and also be mindful during windy and rainy weather. Fifth, do not trust the so-called guides by the roadside. Although they are cheap, charging only 50 yuan, they just hold an album and give you a few minutes of explanation at the entrance plaza without even entering the actual scenic area. It's better to watch some videos online by yourself. If you really want a guide, you can contact the official scenic area.

Maijishan Grottoes | A World in Every Grotto Taking advantage of the popularity of Tianshui hot and spicy soup, I made a trip to one of the four famous grottoes, the Maggie Mountain Grottoes. The place was incredibly crowded. It cost 80 yuan to take a taxi from the downtown area, and then I took a sightseeing bus upon arrival. The journey wasn't long, but it's not very friendly for those with a fear of heights. I didn't hire a guide, just had a quick look around. I saw many Buddhas with mysterious Eastern smiles. Definitely worth a visit.

✅✅ Listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO~ ✅✅ One of China's first batch of key cultural relics protection units~ ✅✅ Along with the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi, and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, it is known as one of the four major grottoes in China~ ♻️♻️ The Maijishan Grottoes, located in Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, are a large group of grottoes on the Silk Road, representing one of the grotto groups of the Northern Dynasties in China. It is also an important part of the 'Silk Road: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Road Network'~ ♻️♻️ Known as 'where there is a niche, there is a Buddha; where there is a wall, there are flying Apsaras', the Maijishan Grottoes were first constructed during the Later Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, and after more than 1600 years of excavation and repair from the Northern Wei to the Qing Dynasty, the caves are densely packed like a beehive, with walkways soaring into the air, stacked upon each other. Its perilous and steep features are rare in the world, making it an important relic of Buddhist art on the Silk Road~ ♻️♻️ The sculptures preserved in the Maijishan Grottoes are mainly made of clay, comprehensively demonstrating the development and evolution of ancient clay sculpture. Its artistic style is influenced by the Western Regions, yet also incorporates the cultures of the Central Plains and southern regions of China, forming a unique regional characteristic. It is an important material for studying the history of ancient Chinese sculpture and fine arts, hence it is known as the 'Gallery of Oriental Sculpture'~ ✅✅ Must-see grottoes representatives: 1️⃣ Cave 4: Thin-bodied Flying Apsaras 2️⃣ Cave 13: The Great Buddha of East Asia 3️⃣ Cave 44: The Smile of the Orient 4️⃣ Cave 98: The Great Buddha on the West Cliff 5️⃣ Cave 121: Whispering 6️⃣ Cave 127: Jataka Tales Murals 7️⃣ Cave 133: Young Novice Monks 8️⃣ Cave 135: Paradise Cave ✅✅ The misty rain of Maijishan is like a mirage, ranking first among the eight scenic spots of Qinzhou, a rare and sought-after sight💯💯💯 🚙🚙 Transportation: There are bus routes to Maijishan Station in Tianshui city area, and the scenic area has convenient parking, recommended for self-driving~ Maijishan Grottoes

Maijishan Scenic Area is located in Maiji Village, Maiji Town, Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province. The scenic area is famous for the Maijishan Grottoes art, and also features natural landscapes such as the Red Cliffs, secluded valleys, springs, perilous peaks with white pines, and forests shrouded in clouds. The Maijishan Grottoes were established at the beginning of the 5th century, preserving 221 caves, 10,632 clay and stone sculptures, and more than 1,000 square meters of murals with rich themes. The Maijishan Grottoes are renowned for their clay and stone-clay sculptures, and are the only grottoes in China that have preserved the most complete image-making system from the Northern Dynasties. They are also the only grottoes that have preserved examples of Northern Dynasty cliffside architecture, earning the reputation as the 'Exhibition Hall of Oriental Sculpture Art' and are one of the 'Four Great Grottoes' in China. The Maijishan Scenic Area is a national 5A-level tourist attraction. ⛰【Travel Tips】 📍Detailed Address: Maiji Village, Maiji Town, Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province 🚗Transportation Tips: Take a train or plane to Tianshui From Tianshui Railway Station, take bus No. 34, ticket price is 5 yuan. Transfer from Tianshui South Station bus No. 9 to No. 34 at the Fifth Company Transport Station 🕙Opening Hours: Peak season: April 1st to November 30th 8:00 to 18:00 Off-season: December 1st to March 31st 8:30 to 17:00 💰Ticket Price: Adult: 80 yuan; half price 40 yuan. 🌟Highlights:

Tianshui tourism is finally heating up! The most impressive part of this trip to Tianshui was not the spicy hot pot, but the Maijishan Grottoes—it's like a Buddhist realm on the sheer cliffs! ❗️How to enjoy a crowd-free scenic spot? (Don't go when it's crowded, or you'll be bumping heads with the person in front of you hhhhhhhh) Tips: 📍1. The scenic area stops admitting visitors at 4:30 PM, so we plan to enter around 4 PM. By then, most tourists have finished their tours and left, allowing us to enjoy the site without disturbance, peacefully admiring and taking photos! 📍2. Take the sightseeing bus up, because walking up the slope can be tiring and time-consuming 📍3. It gets cool in the mountains in the morning and evening, don't forget to bring a jacket 📍4. Those with extreme fear of heights should be cautious, as you have to climb steps in the air (which is also the greatness of the Maijishan Grottoes). I have a mild fear of heights, but it's still acceptable to me Wandering up and down the layered pathways, lingering among the statues, the colored sculptures of Maijishan always have an attractive power that makes people stop and linger. This power comes from the soul of the sculptures, sometimes innocent and cute, sometimes compassionate and approachable, always making one feel that this is the human world, not an unattainable religious realm.