Mati Temple 33 Heavens Grottoes, a test of physical strength and courage

📍Address: Mati Tibetan Township, Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Gansu, 65 km north of Zhangye 🚗Transportation: We drove there. 👍️Must-see: The name of the Mati Temple 33 Heavens Grottoes comes from the Buddhist concept of the "33 Heavens." In Buddhist scriptures, the top of Mount Sumeru is the home of the god Shakra, and the four peaks surrounding it are home to eight gods each, making 32 gods in total. Together with Shakra, they make up the "33 Heavens," a place where the gods entertain themselves. Inspired by this, ancient people carved the "33 Heavens" Grottoes at Mati Temple, symbolizing a state of Buddhist practice. Mati Temple is located in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Gansu, 65 km north of Zhangye. It is a tourist area that combines grotto art, Qilian Mountain scenery, and Tibetan culture. The Mati Temple Grottoes are made up of Shengguo Temple, Puguang Temple, Qianfo Cave, Jinta Temple, and the Upper, Middle, and Lower Guanyin Caves, with more than 70 caves in total. They were first built during the Northern Liang period. The 33 Heavens Grottoes are the largest and most unique of their kind in China, and the only grottoes in China with a plank road built inside the mountain. 🎟️Tickets: No reservation needed, CNY 74