[2025 Sunan Attraction] Travel Guide for Qianfo Cave, Mati Temple (Updated Mar)

Spring Festival is the perfect time to travel! Take an 8-day tour from Xining to Qinghai Lake and Dunhuang to explore the beautiful scenery of the Northwest. Don't miss it! . 🏃 Itinerary: Day 1: Xining Museum Explore the history and culture of Xining and gain a deeper understanding of the city's heritage. Day 2: Ta'er Monastery Experience the unique charm of Tibetan Buddhism and admire the ancient temple architecture. Day 3: Chaka Salt Lake -> Erlangjian Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake Stroll through the mirror of the sky, enjoy the magnificent salt lake scenery, and then head to Erlangjian Scenic Area to admire the vast beauty of Qinghai Lake. Day 4: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park Immerse yourself in the colorful Danxia landform and marvel at the wonders of nature. Day 5: Mati Ecological and Cultural Tourism Area -> Mati Temple Thousand Buddha Caves Experience the unique ecological culture, then visit the ancient Thousand Buddha Caves and feel the weight of history. Day 6: Jiayuguan Pass Visit the majestic Jiayuguan Pass and experience the grandeur of the ancient frontier and the vicissitudes of history. Day 7: Mingsha Mountain Crescent Spring -> Mogao Caves Ride a camel through the desert, listen to the legend of Crescent Spring, and then visit the World Heritage Site of Mogao Caves to admire the splendor of mural art. Day 8: Dunhuang Museum Gain an in-depth understanding of Dunhuang's history and culture, and conclude this journey on a perfect note. . Some tips: 📸 Photo spots: The sunrises and sunsets at Qinghai Lake and Dunhuang are a paradise for photography enthusiasts. Don't miss them! 🛍️ Specialty prices: Xining's beef jerky and Dunhuang's dried fruits are amazing. Remember to compare prices and choose the best value for money. 🍽️ Food recommendations: Dunhuang's Mogao Liangpi and Xining's Kangguo Lamb are must-tries for foodies! 💡 Tips: The ultraviolet rays on the plateau are strong, so sunscreen is a must! The climate is also changeable, so remember to bring enough clothes to stay comfortable. . The charm of Xining, the tranquility of Qinghai Lake, and the mystery of Dunhuang await you. Head west and make the most of your time. Start your journey to the Northwest now!

Xining–Qinghai Lake 8-Day Tour: Explore the Great Northwest! A super detailed guide to help you enjoy the plateau scenery without detours. Save it now! . 🚩Itinerary: Day 1: Xining Museum Explore the history and culture of Xining and admire the museum's collection of exhibits. Day 2: Ta'er Monastery Visit the sacred site of Tibetan Buddhism and feel the solemnity and profound heritage of Ta'er Monastery. Day 3: Chaka Salt Lake > Erlangjian Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake Enjoy the mirror-like Chaka Salt Lake and then head to the Erlangjian Scenic Area of Qinghai Lake to admire the magnificent scenery of the plateau lake. Day 4: Zhangye Danxia National Geological Park Admire the fantastic colors of Zhangye Danxia and feel the magic of nature. Day 5: Mati Temple Scenic Area > Mati Temple Thousand Buddha Caves Explore the natural beauty of Mati Temple Scenic Area and then visit Mati Temple Thousand Buddha Caves to admire the charm of Buddhist art. Day 6: Jiayuguan Pass Climb Jiayuguan Pass to feel the magnificence of the ancient frontier and the weight of history. Day 7: Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring > Mogao Caves Ride a camel across Mingsha Mountain, listen to the legend of Crescent Moon Spring, and then head to Mogao Caves to explore the treasures of millennia-old Buddhist art. Day 8: Dunhuang Museum Visit Dunhuang Museum to admire the historical and cultural relics and art treasures of Dunhuang and end your pleasant journey. . 🎒 Travel Essentials: Xining–Qinghai Lake Packing List 👕 Clothing: Thick coat, long-sleeved clothes, and long johns to keep warm and stylish. Sunscreen clothing, sun hat, and sunglasses to protect you from the sun. 📿 Accessories: Charger and power bank to keep your phone fully charged. Thermos to enjoy hot water. U-shaped pillow for a good sleep on the road. 🆔 Documents: ID card, student ID, and driver's license are essential for travel. Cash and bank cards for emergencies. 💊 Medicine: Motion sickness medicine and cold medicine for emergencies. Lip balm and hand cream to combat the dry climate. . Want to explore Xining and Qinghai Lake? Like and save this guide to start your dream trip! 🚗✨

Horseshoe Temple, also known as Puguang Temple, was built in Beiliang during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It has been more than 1,600 years ago. Guo Yu, a native of Jin Dynasty, once opened a cave here to teach in seclusion and led his disciples to build the caves. After the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Song (Western Xia), Yuan, Ming, Qing and the Republic of China, there were statues and paintings in all dynasties, and gradually formed the horseshoe. Temple Grottoes Group Art. The Jinta Temple was excavated during the Northern Liang Period, about 1,600 to 1,700 years ago, but it cannot be fully verified because there are not enough written records yet. Due to its remote location, high mountains and overhanging walls, and inconvenient transportation, it was fortunate to have escaped the previous campaigns to exterminate Buddhism in history and was relatively completely preserved. High flesh-carved flying apsaras: The flying apsaras hanging on both sides of the lintel on the first floor of the East Grotto are its most distinctive art form. These flying apsaras appear to be flying in the air relative to each other. They are rare treasures of cave art. Their history is much earlier than the Dunhuang apsaras. The figure is plump and simple, and is known as the "essence of the Oriental Feitian". Unique statue style: For example, there is the Reflexive Bodhisattva, which is unique to China only in the Jinta Temple. The statue stands on its back, with a half-naked upper body, wearing Hercules shorts and long monastic hair. There is also a statue of Sakyamuni in ascetic practice. His cheeks are thin and bony, but his eyes are firm and energetic, and his facial contours are gentle. No photography is allowed in the cave. This is the most expensive 4A scenic spot I have ever visited. More expensive than Mogao Grottoes, Mogao Grottoes has two movies and a scenic bus. There is also a museum, which has nothing.

📍Attraction Address: Within the territory of Mati Tibetan Township, Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, Gansu 🚗Transportation: We drove there ourselves 👍️Must-visit attractions: The grottoes consist of Shengguo Temple, Puguang Temple, Qianfo Cave, Jinta Temple, and the Upper, Middle, and Lower Guanyin Caves, totaling more than 70 caves and niches, first built during the Northern Liang period. Mati Temple is named after the legendary heavenly horse that drank water here, leaving a hoof print. The legendary hoof print is preserved in the Mati Hall of Puguang Temple and has become the treasure of the temple. The earliest of these grottoes were built during the Jin Dynasty, carved by Dunhuang native Guo Yu and his disciples. Initially, it was Guo's secluded place for teaching, later added with Buddha statues by others. At its peak, there were more than 300 monks. 🎟️Ticket Information: No reservation needed, buy tickets one hour in advance for 74 yuan 💗Other tips: Highly recommended.

| Low-key and rare, under the snow mountain, the cliff Buddha cave, a glance for a thousand years. In Zhangye, there is a small and beautiful place, it is the Matisi Scenic Area, but it is more than a temple. The Matisi Scenic Area is very large, and the Thousand Buddha Cave is the first stop. I visited in the early morning, the Thousand Buddha Cave carved on the cliff, the Thousand Buddha Cave has more than 500 cliff Buddha pagoda caves, the scale is very large, the multiple stone Buddha statues carved on the stone wall are very fantastic and spectacular. At this moment, the ethereal and quiet, the birds circling, the distant snow mountains, the quiet forest under the mountain, the breeze blowing, a glance for a thousand years. 🏞️About Matisi Scenic Area Matisi is named after the legendary heavenly horse drinking water here and leaving horseshoe prints. The legendary horseshoe print is now preserved in the Puguang Temple Matisi Hall and has become a treasure of the temple. The Matisi Grottoes group has a history of more than 1600 years from the Eastern Jin Dynasty to the modern times, including the Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Song (Xixia), Yuan, Ming, Qing, and the Republic of China. It is one of the historical and highly artistic cultural relics in the province. 🏞️About Thousand Buddha Cave The Thousand Buddha Cave was built during the Northern Liang period of the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It was a Tibetan Buddhist temple during the Yuan Dynasty and is now a Han Buddhist temple. The Thousand Buddha Cave is divided into three parts: the north section, the south section, and the middle section. The north section is a relief stone pagoda forest. On the steep red sandstone, there are dozens of stone pagodas of various sizes. This is where the ascetic monks live or store musk deer. Most of the stone pagodas were carved in the Yuan and Ming periods, and there are also treasures from the Xixia. The south and middle sections are mainly Buddha caves. The cave eaves are Fan-style wooden structure flying eaves. 💚Small tips: 1. Although it is a small crowd, there are still many people in Matisi on holidays, so you must set off early to enter the park. 2. Self-driving or chartered cars can drive into the scenic area, first visit the Thousand Buddha Cave and then go to Thirty-three days. 3. Jinta Temple is also part of the Matisi Scenic Area, but it is very far away and the entrance fee is charged separately. If you are interested and have time, you can go. 4. Thirty-three days cave is limited, the interior is narrow, if you are not physically strong, you do not need to climb up, the entrance and exit are one-way, there are staff to guide, there are many queues in the peak season. ✅Practical information ▫️Name: Matisi 📍Address: Matisi Scenic Area, Sunan Yugu Autonomous County, Gansu Province 🎫Ticket: 65 yuan (including Thirty-three days Buddha Cave) 🚘Transportation: Self-driving or chartered car or half-day tour, public transportation is inconvenient