Tianshui, Gansu | Maijishan

Maijishan Grottoes, located in Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, is one of the four major grottoes in China. It is famous for its exquisite stone carving art, steep geographical location, and long history and culture. Here, you can enjoy the tranquility of ancient temples and the magnificent natural scenery. It is definitely a beautiful secret place worth visiting! 🌟Maijishan Features [[One]] A Buddhist Kingdom on a Cliff: Unlike the horizontal grottoes of the other three major grottoes, Maijishan Grottoes are carved on cliffs over 100 meters high, with caves arranged vertically on the cliff. [[Two]] Cultural Continuity: The other grottoes developed in stages, such as the Mogao Grottoes, which focused on the Tang and Song dynasties, and the Yungang and Longmen Grottoes, which focused on the Northern Wei dynasty. Maijishan, however, has a clear evolution of sculpture styles over a thousand years, from the simple and solemn style of the Later Qin dynasty, to the elegant and delicate style of the Northern Wei dynasty, to the round and smooth style of the Northern Zhou dynasty, to the plump and round style of the Sui and Tang dynasties, and finally to the realistic and innovative style of the Song dynasties. [[Three]] Nationalization and Secularization: The Mogao Grottoes have exotic charm, the Yungang Grottoes have the majestic and rough style of the northern frontier, the Longmen Grottoes have the royal style of elegance and grandeur, while the Maijishan Grottoes reflect the characteristics of nationalization and secularization. Ancient craftsmen integrated their thoughts, feelings, and spiritual experiences into the silent sculptures, creating the timeless Oriental smile and many classic sculptures.