Sunan Travel Recommendations for 2024 (Updated in Apr)

Gansu's Mati Grottoes: Ancient Wonders

⛪️ Mati Temple Grottoes, located in Gansu, China, is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in history and culture. As someone who loves exploring ancient sites, I found this complex of caves and temples to be absolutely stunning. The intricate carvings and sculptures inside the grottoes are a testament to the incredible skill and artistry of the people who created them so many centuries ago. 🤩 One of the highlights of my visit to Mati Temple Grottoes was the opportunity to witness firsthand the incredible walks inside the rocks of these ancient structures. The attention to detail and dedication of the original artists is truly remarkable, and it's heartening to know that these cultural treasures are being preserved for future generations to enjoy. We stayed at a local hotel nearby, which was really nice to wake up and just walk to the temple. There are plenty of beautiful surrounding walk, and I would highly recommend going and walking up the many steps to the viewing platform opposite the stupas! Winner views!!! ⛰️ Overall, I highly recommend a visit to Mati Temple Grottoes for anyone traveling to Gansu. The combination of history, culture, and stunning natural beauty makes for a truly unforgettable experience. #roadtrip #tripleblazer #ancientlandmark

Top 3 in China MATI Temple horse 🐴

Pictures speak louder than words ✌️ How to get there: rental car from Xining (3h), best a 4 wheel drive as the last 5km are not good What’s to see: Nature, temple, local culture and horseback riding Costs: hotels are local, below 200RMb/night. For the horses we paid around 200/each for half day Time needed: full weekend What to look for: Go remote with the horses Don’t forget to bring your drone for some of these beautiful aerial shots 🛸 IG: andykoh_m8 #germaninchina #travellifestyle #aroundtheworld

Zhangye’s Stunning Mati Temple

Mati Temple is one of the most famous scenic spots in Zhangye. The temple is located over 50km from Zhangye city making it difficult and very long to get there by bus. If you can, hire a driver for your journey. Opening Hours: 08:30-18:00 Tickets: 73 RMB/person 📍Address: Sunan Yugu Nationality autonomous county, Zhangye, Gansu ⏰Recommended time: 2-3.5 hours. There are quite a few stairs so it depends on how fast you can go. I recommend just taking your time and taking in the beautiful landscape as well as the grottoes. #grottoes #zhangye #gansu #summervacation #china #thisischina #beautiful

Mati Temple was built in the Jin Dynasty, and features a series of grottoes that blend into the cliff face! In total there are 7 small grotto groups that stretch over 30km, and legend has it that this temple was so named because a sacred horse left a footprint in the rock here - which you can also see inside the temple!). Aside from the grottoes, the area itself is super beautiful, with lush greenery surrounding the entire area. 📍Mati Temple, Gansu Province, China #leaveyourmark

Qilian Mountain National Park

Qilian Mountain National Park is known for its Swiss-like scenery. The park is vast, encompassing the entire Qilian Mountain range. The mountains I had seen before were bare, but the mountains here seem to be covered with a green blanket. There's only thin grass, not many trees, so the shape of the mountains is very clear, with strong and resolute lines, and the mountains are majestic. Below the mountains are vast grasslands, where the grass grows close to the ground. Here, herds of cattle and sheep abound, and the herders have marked the sheep. Some have pink painted on their heads, as if blushed, looking very cute; some have red painted on their rumps, swaying as they walk; others are painted blue, like little blue smurfs on the mountain; the black yaks are a bit larger. Flocks of sheep cross the road in groups, making quite a spectacle, and here, traffic jams are mostly caused by giving way to the sheep herds.

Gansu's 'Little Switzerland', the Qilian Mountains live up to their name

The Qilian Mountain range stretches 800 kilometers from east to west and is 200 to 400 kilometers wide from north to south, with altitudes ranging from 4000 to 6000 meters. It contains 3306 glaciers, covering an area of about 2062 square kilometers. The western end connects with the Altun Mountain Range at Dangjin Mountain Pass, and the eastern end reaches the Yellow River Valley, linking with the Qinling and Liupan Mountains, spanning nearly 1000 kilometers. It is a folded block mountain range, with the widest part reaching 300 kilometers between Zhangye City and the Qaidam Basin◇from north to south◇including the Daxue Mountain, Tuolai Mountain, Tuolai South Mountain, Yema South Mountain, Shule South Mountain, Danghe South Mountain, Tuerkendaban Mountain, Qaidam Mountain, and Zongwulong Mountain. Many peaks are between 4000 and 5000 meters in altitude, with the highest peak, Shule South Mountain's Tuanjie Peak, reaching 5808 meters. Peaks over 4000 meters are perennially snow-capped, and the valleys between mountains are also between 3000 and 3500 meters in altitude. It is an important ecological barrier in western China. In 1988, the Gansu Provincial Qilian Mountain National Nature Reserve was established in the central and eastern parts of the northern Qilian Mountains, spanning the cities of Zhangye, Wuwei, and Jinchang. Gansu and Qinghai provinces have initiated a pilot program for the Qilian Mountain National Park system. The area spans the cities of Zhangye, Wuwei, and Jinchang.

In the mountains (1)

Tired of the hustle and bustle of the city, on a sunny day, I drove to the Qilian Mountains. It's really cool in the mountains, with deep mountains and deep gullies, and trees shading the sun. Birds sing in the mountain streams, and everything is thriving. The stream rushes over the rocks, flowing with a rustling sound. The primitive jungle, the winding path leads to the distance. The wooden bridge on the stream lies across the river, a natural and simple nature, how can it not make people sigh, how can it not make people linger.

I'm sorry, Qilian Mountains, I underestimated your beauty

When it comes to snow mountains, the first places I think of are Sichuan, Tibet, and Xinjiang. I never thought of the Qilian Mountains. Even when the plane flew over the Qilian Mountains, I thought they were too low and not very spectacular. It wasn't until the National Day when I drove to the Qilian Mountains and went deep into the hinterland that I realized I had seriously underestimated the beauty of the Qilian Mountains. Compared with famous snow mountains like Gongga and Yaomei, the Qilian Mountains are more like a snow wall. The momentum is overwhelming and indescribable. Under the contrast of the golden grassland, it is incredibly spectacular.

Binggou scenic area

Getting There - 30min drive from West gate of Danxia Park Attractions - futuristic park with mountains of different colours and shapes. We were staying near Danxia Park and were offered to go to the Binggou Scenic Area. It took us about 30min to get there, the entrance was about 170rmb. You can drive your car around the park or use a public transport (van, car or bus). Important: the ticket office is about 25min away from the park entrance, make sure you buy your ticket first and then go to the entrance. The scenery was very satisfying, we enjoyed walking around different areas of the park. There was no crowds and it felt like we are the only people there! #couplestrip#hikingtrails

Bing gou area 冰沟。There are a lot of reviews and beautiful pictures, so I'll try to focus on very IMPORTANT MOMENTS for independent travelers. 1) Arriving. The transportation is truly worth! There is a lack of info even if using Chinese language for searching. I advice at first go to Zhangye DangXia (张掖七菜), and after that to proceed with visiting Bing Gou Area. The shuttle between both areas exists, but the schedule is a real mystery! Also the stops vary from time to time, they are outside of regular tourist area on the road covered by dust. So, we took a cabby for 50 yuan, the ride took about 40 min (road was under construction). 2) Weather. Always keep extra clothes in your travel bag, do not think you can enjoy the temperature suddenly dropping down from 25 to 10 or 8. We saw this kind of true mature men, who were shaking like a scared rabbits. 3) Leaving the scenic area. This is the most funny and very sad moment at the same time ... The administration of scenic area finally organized the shuttle buses from Bing Gou to the city of Zhangye. But... OK, last bus is at 6.10 pm (18.10). At the parking lot the pillar with writing in English and Chinese indicates the 大巴车 or intercity bus stop, but bus will NEVER COME THERE!!! You should wait the bus outside of tourist area just at the roadside of highway!!! It's not safety because of cars going with speed about 80 km/h. The driver is stopping bus only for a few seconds, he even do not open the door. Please, do not think you are fast enough to run so quickly to jump into bus, if you are waiting at the parking. And if course the driver will not pay attention for your shouting and gesturing... By the way, the regular price for taking taxi from scenic spot to the Zhangye city center is 150 yuan, do not agree, if you are asked to pay more many. Before to come here, and at the parking you can ask the drivers visit cards (名片) for emergency. Just collect several cards. Bing Gou Area let us feel we have entered the forgo #tripaway#triplocal

Zhangye has two Danxia scenic spots, one is the well-known Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park, which is closer to the urban area, and the other is the ice ditch Danxia, which is far from the urban area. This scenic spot has a lower visibility and few tourists. The main people here are some photographers, so there is a bus in the scenic spot very early. When we arrived at the observation deck, it was about 6 in the morning.

Here is the net red in the landscape. Another important reason is that it is a paradise for filmmakers and photographers. "The third part of the detective Di Renjie", "Zi Xia", "Meet you in the most beautiful place" are here. Look at the scene. And academically, Binggou Danxia was hailed by Professor Huang Jin of Contemporary Xu Xiake as the first in China, Zhang Huans palace-like Danxia landform and Palace Danxia Guanhuaxia.

Exploring the Hexi Corridor - Zhangye Mati Temple, the unmissable Little Switzerland of the East!

🎈Day Eight: Zhangye Mati Temple 🎈Mati Temple is definitely the highlight of this Hexi Corridor trip! The name 'Little Switzerland of the East' is well-deserved! 🎈While watching a documentary about the Hexi Corridor, I knew there was a place called Linsong Xie Valley, a meeting point of Han and Tibetan Buddhism. When we drove to the entrance of the Mati Temple scenic area, we were stunned by the continuous peaks and snow-capped mountains. Upon entering the scenic area, a landscape of autumnal mountains and waters unfolded before us, a perfect fusion of natural and cultural landscapes, as if we were in a paradise. 🎈We drove to the visitor center, bought tickets, and drove straight into the scenic area. Due to time constraints, we only stayed at Mati Temple and didn't visit Jinta Temple, but at the Zhangye Museum, we saw a replica of the Jinta Temple grottoes, so we had no regrets. 🎈Although the Thirty-Three Heavens Grottoes and the Thousand Buddha Caves have been severely damaged, their architectural forms are still worth exploring. The grotto plank road is built inside the mountain, winding and twisting, and some sections can be quite thrilling. Sometimes, we even felt like we were climbing up to a hanging temple. 🎈Standing at the top of the Thirty-Three Heavens Grottoes, overlooking the Ximalian Beach, the view is magnificent. After descending the mountain, we continued to explore, following the road ahead, greeted by the splendid autumn scenery. Moreover, there are few visitors here, and the roadside is planted with a sea buckthorn trees, which are in the season of ripe fruits. Picking a few sea buckthorns to try, the taste was simply delicious. 🎈The preservation of the grottoes at Mati Temple is not complete, and visitors can only see four of them. However, the explanations in the scenic area are very detailed, leaving a deep impression. After leaving Mati Temple, we moved on to Wuwei. On the Lianhuo Expressway, we also saw the ruins of the Ming Great Wall, and even encountered a group of camels by the road, such unexpected beautiful scenery always brings a pleasant surprise.

The spectacle of pagoda-shaped grottoes carved into the cliff, you can only climb up with hands and feet

When I first came to Zhangye, I fell in love with Zhangye. When I first swiped to the Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave, I listed it as my must-go list. 💙About Matisi 🔹Matisi was carved in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Northern Liang period, about 1600 years ago. The grotto is 10 meters deep, 10 meters wide, and 3 meters high, a typical central pillar grotto. The central pillar is carved with statues, all of which were sculpted in modern times, including the founder of the Gelug sect, Tsongkhapa and his disciples. There are Ming Dynasty murals remaining on the walls of the cave. There is a horseshoe mark left in front of the left side of the central pillar, which is said to be the miracle of the heavenly horse of the Tibetan hero King Gesar, hence the name Matisi. 🔹Matisi Grottoes are composed of Shengguo Temple, Puguang Temple, Thousand Buddha Cave, Jinta Temple, Upper, Middle, and Lower Guanyin Caves, with more than 70 grottoes, which were built in the Northern Liang. 💙Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave 🔹The Thirty-three Caves that I am interested in belong to Puguang Temple in Matisi Scenic Area. The Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave is also the main building of Matisi. It is carved along the mountain and has seven layers of step-style buildings. 🔹The exterior of the Thirty-three Caves is in the shape of a pagoda, and the caves carved inside are very steep, narrow inside, almost vertical stairs, and you can only climb up with hands and feet. 🔹The main worship inside is the Buddha statue of Tibetan Buddhism, and the top floor is dedicated to the Green Tara. Unfortunately, the interior has been severely damaged. Looking at the wall full of 'XXX has been here', the shock and regret are indescribable. 💙Standing Buddha Hall Next to the Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave is the Standing Buddha Hall, also known as the Tibetan Buddha Hall. This grotto is the largest grotto in Matisi and the largest single grotto in China. The grotto was carved in the Northern Wei Dynasty and consists of a front hall, a worship hall, and a corridor. The original statue in the cave was hoped for in the Yuan Dynasty, with a total of 48 kinds. There is a well at the corner of the right corridor, the well is only more than 3 meters deep, and it is called 'Eight Merits Holy Water' by Buddhist believers. It is said that drinking this water can make people strong and healthy, without disasters and diseases. 💙Small tips: 1. Although it is niche, there are still many people in Matisi on holidays, so you must set off early to enter the park. 2. Self-driving or chartered cars can drive into the scenic area, first visit the Thousand Buddha Cave and then go to Thirty-three Days. 3. Jinta Temple also belongs to the Matisi Scenic Area, but it is very far away, and the entrance fee is charged separately. If you are interested and have time, you can go. 4. The Thirty-three Days Cave is limited in flow, the interior is narrow, and those with poor physical strength do not need to climb up. The entrance and exit are one-way, with staff guidance, and there are many queues in the peak season. ✅Practical information ▫️Name: Matisi 📍Address: Matisi Scenic Area, Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Gansu Province 🎫Ticket: 65 yuan (including Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave) 🚘Transportation: Self-driving or chartered car or half-day tour, public transportation is inconvenient

Zhangye | Low-key and rare, under the snow mountain, the cliff Buddha cave, a glance for a thousand years

| Low-key and rare, under the snow mountain, the cliff Buddha cave, a glance for a thousand years. In Zhangye, there is a small and beautiful place, it is the Matisi Scenic Area, but it is more than a temple. The Matisi Scenic Area is very large, and the Thousand Buddha Cave is the first stop. I visited in the early morning, the Thousand Buddha Cave carved on the cliff, the Thousand Buddha Cave has more than 500 cliff Buddha pagoda caves, the scale is very large, the multiple stone Buddha statues carved on the stone wall are very fantastic and spectacular. At this moment, the ethereal and quiet, the birds circling, the distant snow mountains, the quiet forest under the mountain, the breeze blowing, a glance for a thousand years. 🏞️About Matisi Scenic Area Matisi is named after the legendary heavenly horse drinking water here and leaving horseshoe prints. The legendary horseshoe print is now preserved in the Puguang Temple Matisi Hall and has become a treasure of the temple. The Matisi Grottoes group has a history of more than 1600 years from the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the modern times, including the Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Song (Xixia), Yuan, Ming, Qing, and the Republic of China. It is one of the historical and highly artistic cultural relics in the province. 🏞️About Thousand Buddha Cave The Thousand Buddha Cave was built during the Northern Liang period of the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was a Tibetan Buddhist temple during the Yuan Dynasty and is now a Han Buddhist temple. The Thousand Buddha Cave is divided into three parts: the north section, the south section, and the middle section. The north section is a relief stone pagoda forest. On the steep red sandstone, there are dozens of stone pagodas of various sizes. This is where the ascetic monks live or store musk deer. Most of the stone pagodas were carved in the Yuan and Ming periods, and there are also treasures from the Xixia. The south and middle sections are mainly Buddha caves. The cave eaves are Fan-style wooden structure flying eaves. 💚Small tips: 1. Although it is a small crowd, there are still many people in Matisi on holidays, so you must set off early to enter the park. 2. Self-driving or chartered cars can drive into the scenic area, first visit the Thousand Buddha Cave and then go to Thirty-three days. 3. Jinta Temple is also part of the Matisi Scenic Area, but it is very far away and the entrance fee is charged separately. If you are interested and have time, you can go. 4. Thirty-three days cave is limited, the interior is narrow, if you are not physically strong, you do not need to climb up, the entrance and exit are one-way, there are staff to guide, there are many queues in the peak season. ✅Practical information ▫️Name: Matisi 📍Address: Matisi Scenic Area, Sunan Yugu Autonomous County, Gansu Province 🎫Ticket: 65 yuan (including Thirty-three days Buddha Cave) 🚘Transportation: Self-driving or chartered car or half-day tour, public transportation is inconvenient

Stairway to Serenity: Mati Temple

Mati Temple Scenic Area in Gansu, China is a fascinating destination for those who love history, culture and stunning views. While there are many steps to climb to reach the viewing platform, the effort is more than worth it for the breathtaking vista and unique structures at the top. The two large white stupas, each surrounded by prayer wheels, add to the spiritual atmosphere of the temple. The temple itself is steeped in history and culture, with a rich legacy dating back many centuries. But it's the viewing platform that really steals the show. From here, visitors can take in stunning panoramic views of the surrounding natural landscape. The combination of lush greenery and rugged mountains is truly awe-inspiring, and makes the climb more than worthwhile. Would recommend going early in the morning when nobody is about - tickets are around 90rmb per person. Overall, Mati Temple in Gansu is a must-visit destination for anyone traveling to the area. The history and culture of the grottoes, combined with the stunning views and unique structures, make it an unforgettable experience. #roadtrip #tripleblazer