The Maijishan Grottoes, the most low-key among China's four major grottoes

🌟Highlights: China's four major grottoes, in chronological order of construction, are the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the Maijishan Grottoes, the Yungang Grottoes, and the Longmen Grottoes. The most low-key among them is the Maijishan Grottoes located in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, standing at 142 meters high and named after its resemblance to a farmer's wheat stack. The Maijishan Grottoes were first built during the Later Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms and have undergone excavation and restoration over more than 1,600 years through the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. Currently, there are 221 caves, 3,938 statues of various types, 10,632 figures, and 979.54 square meters of murals. The statues preserved in the Maijishan Grottoes are mainly clay sculptures, continuously created through various dynasties, showcasing the development and evolution of ancient clay sculpture. For example, the robust and vigorous style of the early Northern Wei, the delicate and clear style of the late Northern Wei, the elegant and clear style of the Western Wei, the round and smooth style of the Northern Zhou, the full and round style of the Sui and Tang, and the realistic and change-seeking style of the Song dynasties. It is an important resource for studying the history of sculpture and art, earning the reputation of the "Oriental Sculpture Gallery." When we visited, it was the end of the summer vacation, so there weren't many people. It's said that during the peak summer season, there are long queues everywhere, so it's best to avoid this time. 👍Highly Recommended: Cave 4: A large palace-style cave with seven rooms and eight pillars, the largest palace-style cave among all the grottoes in China. Other similar caves in Dunhuang, Yungang, Longmen, and Tianlongshan are far inferior in overall scale and detailed decoration. Due to earthquake damage, the large statues inside and outside the cave are not the original works from the Northern Zhou period but were restored during the Northern Song dynasty. The Vajra warriors on both sides of the cave are particularly vivid in their majestic and heroic postures and expressions. Cave 44: The main Buddha on the front wall is known as the "Smile of the East." The Bodhisattva lowers his eyebrows, silently smiling at all beings. This Buddha statue is reputed as the "Smile of the East." Some studies suggest that it was modeled after Empress Yifu of the Western Wei Emperor, created by the King of Wudu in memory of his mother, hence its particularly kind and feminine features. Cave 98: The Great Buddha on the West Cliff, composed of one Buddha and two Bodhisattvas, stands 14 meters high. It is solemn from a distance and awe-inspiring up close. Unfortunately, the left attendant Bodhisattva has mostly fallen off, leaving only the stone base. If you want to visit special caves, you need to buy tickets in advance at the scenic area entrance. There are many special caves, the most famous being Cave 133. If you only want to experience one special cave, choose Cave 133 to see the most beautiful smile of the Northern Wei novice monk. 🚉Transportation Tips: If you are driving, you don't need to park at the visitor center and take a shuttle bus. You can drive directly to the vicinity of the scenic area, park for 10 yuan, which is more convenient for visiting Xianrenya and saves time.