Ancient Treasures of Maijishan Grottoes

inspirasian
Jul 27, 2023
3 min read

Just a few miles south of the Silk Road in Gansu Province, lies one of the most spectacular artistic treasure of China’s past – the Maijishan Grottoes. This astonishing example of rock cut architecture goes as far back as the Later Qin era (384 – 417 AD) when Buddhism first reached China from India, and its construction and restoration extended over 12 subsequent dynasties, each era bringing with it the influence from new cultures and people. Over the centuries it remained an attraction to the monks and artists who travelled along the Silk Road, some of whom chose to stay at Maijishan and offer their talents in the construction and decoration of these impressive grottoes.

Many of the statues, especially those inside the caves are exquisite, and ornately decorated. These more elaborate statues were generally not created with indigenous stone, meaning the rock for these huge ornate statues was hauled up the mountain sides from somewhere else. Strain as much as you like, but you will not find a satisfactory answer for every question the grottoes pose. Regardless, the beauty of these mysterious caves and carvings transcends beyond archeological mysteries.

Essential Info

The Maijishan Grottoes, are one of the four major Buddhist grotto sites in China (alongside Dunhuang, Yungang, and Longmen). They are located along an ancient branch of the Silk Road.

What you can see

1. Carved mountain wall full of caves

In the steep, honeycomb-like rock wall, more than 190 small caves and niches have been carved out, connected by wooden and iron walkways that cling to the rock face.
The whole thing looks spectacular - as if a cliff has been transformed into a "vertical monastery".

2. Sculpture and Buddhist Art

There are 7,200 clay and stone statues, ranging from small votive figures to colossal Buddha statues up to 16 meters high.
The statues are often vibrantly painted and depict Buddhas, bodhisattvas, heavenly guardians, and donors.
The style is influenced by Indian, Central Asian, and Chinese sculptural traditions, making it clear that this was a crossroads of cultures.

3. Murals and Frescoes

Approximately 1,000 square meters of frescoes depict Buddhist cosmology, stories from the Jatakas (previous lives of the Buddha), and scenes from daily life of that time.
The paintings show a transition from early Indian influences to a distinctly Chinese Buddhist iconography.

4. Spectacular setting in nature

The cave is located on a steep red sandstone cliff of 142 meters high, in a green valley.
From the walkways, you have impressive views of the mountains and forests around.

5. Historical layers

The cave complexes were initiated in the late Qin dynasty (4th century) and further expanded during the Northern Wei, Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties.
As a result, you can see in the caves a 'timeline in stone and clay' of nearly 1,500 years of Buddhist art history.

General: They continued to change over 12 dynasties, keeping a Buddhist thread throughout its evolution. Although this common theme exists, and the caves feature over 7,000 Buddhist statues, there is significant variation between the statues.

When to Go: The Maijishan Grottoes can be visited all year around. However, the best time to visit the Maiji Mountain Scenic Reserve area is from July to October. In Summer (July to August), Maiji Mountain, covered by dense foliage, is a good place for a summer vacation. Autumn (September to October) is the best time to see the colorful leaves on the mountain.

Recommended Visiting Time: Usually half a day is suggested to visit the Maijishan Grottoes. Travelers can take the bullet train from Xian or Lanzhou to Tianshui in the morning. It takes about 1½–2 hours. *We would be more than willing to customize a Maijishan Grottoes trip based on your special requirements.

Kindly Note: The various caves can be reached via a staircase system. In front of most caves have mesh, which makes it difficult to take pictures.

Admission Fee: Entrance fee and car booked through himalayawander

Altitude: average elevation of 1.720 meters

Location: Gansu Province, China

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