About
The Maijishan Grottoes sit in Tianshui, in Gansu Province in northwestern China. They are a UNESCO World Heritage component site, made up of Buddhist cave temples carved into a sandstone hill that rises above the surrounding countryside. The site is also known as the Maiji Mountain Caves or Mount Maiji Caves.
What you will see
The grottoes hold more than 7,000 sculptures and about 1,000 square metres of murals. The works date from the 4th to the 19th centuries, so a single visit moves through many periods of Buddhist art. Because the caves are cut into a steep hillside, the experience is as much about climbing and moving between levels as it is about looking at individual figures.
Planning your visit
- Location: Maijishan Scenic Area, Tianshui, Gansu 741020, China
- Kind of visit: A heritage site suited to those interested in Buddhist sculpture, cave temples and Chinese art history
- Contact: +86-938-2236316
Tianshui is the city that anchors the site, so it makes a practical base for exploring the area. Because the grottoes are spread across a hillside, allow time to walk between the caves at an unhurried pace and to take in the setting, which is part of what gives the place its character.