The Maijishan Grottoes

The Maijishan Grottoes located 45 kilometers southeast of Tianshui City in Gansu Province with 142 meters high. The work on this Grottoes began in the late Qin Dynasty(221 BC-206 BC), progressing through to the Qing Dynasty(1644-1911). Although the statues were built at the same location, none of them maintained a similar style with those preceding it. Statues from each dynasty developed distinct elements. On the sheer cliff that marks the southwest side of Maiji Mountain, people have labored for centuries carving niches and caves, giving rise to what is known today as the Maijishan Grottoes. People named the mountain “Maiji” because it resembles a stack of wheat straw, “mai”meaning wheat, and “ji” meaning stack. Besides 194 Buddhist caves and niches, Maijishan Grottoes containing more than 7,200 clay statues, there are also murals of over 1,300 square meters. In China, it rarely could find caves and statues carved over sheer cliffs, it is one of the most distinguishing features of Maijishan Grottoes. The caves are connected by plank roads that hang precariously along the cliff, so the visitors could only reach each cave by using it which offers a breathtaking experience. It usually takes about 2-3 hours to finish the whole trip.