Ancient Treasures of Maijishan Grottoes
Just a few miles south of the Silk Road in Gansu Province, lies one of the most spectacular artistic treasure of China’s past – the Maijishan Grottoes. This astonishing example of rock cut architecture goes as far back as the Later Qin era (384 – 417 AD) when Buddhism first reached China from India, and its construction and restoration extended over 12 subsequent dynasties, each era bringing with it the influence from new cultures and people. Over the centuries it remained an attraction to the monks and artists who travelled along the Silk Road, some of whom chose to stay at Maijishan and offer their talents in the construction and decoration of these impressive grottoes.
Many of the statues, especially those inside the caves are exquisite, and ornately decorated. These more elaborate statues were generally not created with indigenous stone, meaning the rock for these huge ornate statues was hauled up the mountain sides from somewhere else. Strain as much as you like, but you will not find a satisfactory answer for every question the grottoes pose. Regardless, the beauty of these mysterious caves and carvings transcends beyond archeological mysteries.
Essential Info
General: They continued to change over 12 dynasties, keeping a Buddhist thread throughout its evolution. Although this common theme exists, and the caves feature over 7,000 Buddhist statues, there is significant variation between the statues.
When to Go: The Maijishan Grottoes can be visited all year around. However, the best time to visit the Maiji Mountain Scenic Reserve area is from July to October. In Summer (July to August), Maiji Mountain, covered by dense foliage, is a good place for a summer vacation. Autumn (September to October) is the best time to see the colorful leaves on the mountain.
Recommended Visiting Time: Usually half a day is suggested to visit the Maijishan Grottoes. Travelers can take the bullet train from Xian or Lanzhou to Tianshui in the morning. It takes about 1½–2 hours. *We would be more than willing to customize a Maijishan Grottoes trip based on your special requirements.
Kindly Note: The various caves can be reached via a staircase system. In front of most caves have mesh, which makes it difficult to take pictures.
Admission Fee: Entrance fee and car booked through himalayawander
Altitude: average elevation of 1.720 meters
Location: Gansu Province, China
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