Zhangye Matisi Temple | A Millennium-Old Sacred Site on the Cliff

| A millennium-old sacred site on the cliff. "Not looking at the snow on the Qilian Mountains, mistaking Zhangye for Jiangnan." Hidden in the folds of the Hexi Corridor lies a sacred site on a cliff—the Matisi Grottoes. During the Eastern Jin Dynasty, Guo Yu inherited his master's will, set up an altar in a quiet valley to teach, and carved grottoes for cultivation on Matisi Mountain. They never imagined that this refuge would later become a witness to the convergence of Confucian and Buddhist civilizations, preserving the spiritual homeland of scholars through the turbulent times of the Five Liang regimes. ✨ Who built this sacred place of faith that has lasted for a thousand years on the cliff? When the Buddha niches coexist with the landscape, a thousand years of time become a silent footnote～ 📸 Zhangye・Matisi Temple・Hexi Corridor・Listening to the call of the Qilian Mountains Big reveal of hidden experiences at Jinta Temple: advance phone reservation is required, with a daily limit of 40 visitors. Those planning to go must arrange their time in advance. Contact staff to report your license plate number for smooth access. If you are coming from afar, it is highly recommended to visit Jinta Temple as well. The scenery along the way from Matisi Temple to Jinta Temple is a visual feast that you absolutely cannot miss. The mystical road to Jinta Temple: On the way to Jinta Temple, vast layers of spruce trees overlap, and the grasslands that are not yet fully green look like a natural velvet carpet casually spread out. Lambs grazing with their heads down create a charming contrast with the silent snow-capped mountains in the distance. Even local drivers can’t help but praise: "Coming here to escape the summer heat cools both the eyes and the heart～" 🚗 Travel Tips 👭 Girls traveling together by chartered car have more flexibility, can stop anytime for beautiful views, and take photos to their heart’s content. 🚙 You can ask staff to recommend a chartered driver. Experienced drivers can arrange the trip worry-free and help you manage your time well so you don’t miss the first afternoon guided tour at Jinta Temple. 💴 Cost Reference: Matisi Temple + Jinta Temple Special Grotto + Chartered Car ≈ 585 RMB, with Jinta Temple East and West Special Grottoes costing 300 RMB. Although the price is a bit high, as a cultural treasure, it is definitely worth seeing. ⚠️ Special Reminder: Only the East and West grottoes remain at Jinta Temple; the others have collapsed. It was officially opened to the public in 2023, with opening times yet to be determined. When you pass through the narrow passage into the grotto, sunlight filters through the colored windows, illuminating the half-relief V-shaped high-relief painted sculptures of flying apsaras, their robes seeming to flutter in the wind. This artistic miracle predates the Mogao Grottoes by 300 years. Seeing it once is enough to etch it into your memory. Local Cuisine - **Yugur Ethnic Flavor**: Hand-pulled lamb and roasted whole lamb are traditional Yugur dishes, with tender and nutritious lamb. - **Farmhouse Dishes**: Around Matisi Temple, farmhouse restaurants offer authentic local dishes such as stir-fried potato slices and stewed tofu, made with fresh ingredients and original flavors. - **Special Drinks**: Yugur milk tea warms the body and drives away cold, along with barley wine. There is also original yogurt, which is very sour but delicious. - **Other Delicacies**: Zhangye’s specialty noodles, Youmian Kaolaolao, have a chewy texture and are delicious with vinegar sauce or lamb soup. Niangpi is thin as cicada wings, refreshing and tasty. Lamb paomo is also a must-try local delicacy. Photos and text sourced from the internet; please notify for removal if there is any infringement. #ZhangyeTravel #MatisiGrottoes #HexiCorridor #JintaTempleSpecialGrotto #QilianMountainScenery