The Maijishan Grottoes are a unique complex of caves carved into rocky mountains. This site contains over 7,200 Buddhist sculptures. Construction began during the Qin Dynasty.
The Maijishan Grottoes, China are a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the four largest cave complexes in China. This location boasts a valuable collection of clay Buddhist sculptures and exquisite murals created between 384 and 417 AD and thousands of years thereafter.
Situated on the steep cliffs of Maiji Mountain, the Maijishan Grottoes are not easily accessible but are well-preserved. The grottoes are located about 35 km southeast of Tianshui City in Gansu Province and are part of the Qilian Mountains, west of the Xiaolong Mountains. The grottoes are approximately 142 meters above ground, carved into a mountain that resembles stacked wheat, hence the name Maiji, which means “wheat mountain” in Chinese.
The Maijishan Grottoes, China.
Currently, there are 194 Buddhist caves, 7,200 clay sculptures, and 1,000 m2 of murals at this site. All the caves are carved into the cliffs, distributed across the eastern and western cliff faces.
The eastern cliff currently has 54 caves, while the western cliff has 140 caves. Due to the loose structure of the rock on Maiji Mountain, which is not easy to carve, there are exquisite clay sculptures, most of which are colored.
Scholars believe that this cave system began construction over several dynasties.
The Maijishan Grottoes are well-preserved because all the caves are carved into the steep cliffs of the mountain, making them difficult to access and thus protecting them from much destruction throughout history. Today, visitors can admire the sculptures and murals of Buddha along a narrow path that runs along the cliffs.
Impressive scenery of the Maijishan Grottoes.
The clay sculptures at Maijishan are famous both domestically and internationally. Thousands of sculptures here can reach heights of up to 16 meters or be as small as 10 cm, reflecting the characteristics of sculpture from various periods and the development of clay sculpture in China over more than a thousand years.
The diverse Buddhist statues, valuable murals, and architectural works built into the cliffs are all worth visiting. To protect these cultural relics, some caves have been designated as special caves, and visitors need to purchase tickets to enter.
To prevent overcrowding, the Maijishan Grottoes only issue 6,400 tickets per day. The most notable areas to visit are caves number 003, 004, 013, and 121.
