Maijishan Grottoes

🌟 Three-day tour in Tianshui, explore the culture and scenery of Fuxi's hometown! 🌄 **Day 1: Maijishan Grottoes—Fuxi Temple** - **Morning**: 🏞️ Depart from the city center to the World Cultural Heritage site—Maijishan Grottoes. It's recommended to set off early to avoid the crowds and the scorching sun. - **Noon**: 🍜 Taste Tianshui's special noodle dishes, such as beef noodles and rolled noodles, at a restaurant near Maijishan Grottoes. "Maijishan Noodle House" is recommended. - **Afternoon**: 🏯 After visiting Maijishan Grottoes, head to Fuxi Temple to learn about the story of Fuxi, the cultural progenitor in ancient Chinese mythology. - **Evening**: 🍲 Return to the city center and taste more authentic snacks around Tianshui People's Square, such as lamb soup with bread and cold noodles. **Day 2: Tianshui Museum—Nanguo Temple** - **Morning**: 🏺 Visit Tianshui Museum, which houses a large collection of precious cultural relics, especially the sculpture of a horse galloping across a flying swallow. - **Noon**: 🍴 Find a well-reviewed restaurant in the city, such as "Qinzhou Old Street", to taste more local delicacies. - **Afternoon**: 🍃 Head to Nanguo Temple to experience the tranquility and solemnity of this thousand-year-old ancient temple. - **Evening**: ☕️ You can choose to continue exploring the food at Tianshui night market or enjoy a leisurely time in a coffee shop in the city. **Day 3: Immortal Cliff—Tianshui Folk Culture Expo Park** - **Morning**: 🏔️ Head to Immortal Cliff to explore this scenic area that combines natural and cultural landscapes. - **Noon**: 🍽️ Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in the Immortal Cliff scenic area and taste local specialty dishes. - **Afternoon**: 🎭 Visit Tianshui Folk Culture Expo Park to understand the folk culture and traditional handicrafts of the Gansu region. - **Evening**: 🚶 End your pleasant trip to Tianshui, return to the city center or head to the train station/bus station to prepare to leave. **Food Recommendations:** 1. **"Maijishan Noodle House"** - 🍜 Taste authentic noodle dishes such as beef noodles and rolled noodles. 2. **"Qinzhou Old Street"** - 🍴 Various Tianshui specialty dishes in an antique environment. 3. **Tianshui Night Market** - 🍢 Lamb soup with bread, cold noodles, barbecue skewers, and a variety of snacks are available. **Tips:** - 🌞 The climate in Tianshui is dry, please remember to hydrate and apply sunscreen. - 👟 Some attractions are quite large, it is recommended to wear comfortable shoes. - 🍁 Respect local customs and keep the environment clean. Take this guide with you on your journey to Tianshui and experience the unique charm of this ancient city! ✨🌈

🚩Day one: 👉Morning: Ruiying Temple🛕 - Maiji Misty Rain🌧 👉Noon: Taste local delicacies, such as Tianshui Gua Gua😋, Tianshui Mixed Stew, etc. 👉Afternoon: Sanhua Tower🎇 - Immortal Cliff👼 - Thousand Buddha Corridor🧘‍♀️ 👉Evening: Check into a nearby hotel and rest 🚩Day two: 👉Morning: Niuer Hall🐂 - Seven Buddha Pavilion🛤 👉Noon: Taste specialty snacks, such as Jiangshui Noodles🍜, etc. 👉Afternoon: Wannian Hall🙏 - Jiling🕍 - Sky Bridge🎢 👉Evening: Enjoy the night view🌙 🚩Day three: 👉Morning: East Cliff🧗‍♂️ - West Cliff🧗‍♀️ 👉Noon: Have lunch in the scenic area 👉Afternoon: Prepare to return 👀Notice: 🎫Purchase tickets in advance 🚗Arrange transportation reasonably 🌅Pay attention to weather changes

Maijishan Grottoes, one of the four major grottoes in China. If Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is the 'Great Gallery' in the Gobi, then Maijishan Grottoes is the 'Sculpture Museum' on the cliff. There are currently 221 grottoes in Maijishan Grottoes, with 3938 various statues of 10632 bodies, from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Two Song Dynasties, all showing different styles of statues and the continuation of statue craftsmanship over the ages. 📒: Unlike the grand style of Yungang and Longmen, the clay sculptures of Maijishan are restrained and gentle, full of the smell of the world. After the wind and frost, these excellent colored sculptures still shine. 📒: The ancients, with their devout faith, infused eternal beauty and Buddha nature into every Buddha statue in this grotto. Those worldly smiles, the smiles of the Buddha, carrying people's longing for a good ordinary life, are forever fixed in the grottoes of Maijishan in the depths of the Qinling Mountains. 🚗Travel: In addition to chartered platforms and self-driving, Tianshui has a special travel bus line. You can also find a taxi or a networked car, round trip, remember to bargain. If you book a homestay in the scenic area directly, the homestay owner will take you in. 🎫Ticket: The pass is 80 yuan and you can visit most of the caves, and some of the caves inside are charged separately. ⏰Opening hours 9:00-5:30, basically the staff of the scenic area will start to urge everyone to go out after five o'clock, and start clearing the field at half past five. ➡️Tour route Divided into 1 and 2 lines, line 1 has to climb stairs to a height of 84 meters, mainly ordinary caves; line 2 includes 2 special caves, the route is flat, suitable for fear of heights, with elderly children. Looking at the flow of people, 80% will choose line 1. Line 1 sees more caves, mainly concentrated in the downhill process. There are fewer caves on line 2, but you can see special caves, and the view of the three large caves is good. Judging from the broadcast in the scenic area, once it enters the holiday peak, it should be diverted like this. Non-peak is based on the ticket price of ordinary caves + separate special caves to visit. ➡️Tour time Maijishan has two ticket checks (at the entrance of the scenic area and at the entrance of the park) and one sightseeing car check. The sightseeing car journey is about 3.5 kilometers. Line 1 tour takes about 1.5 hours, and line 2 observation should not exceed 1 hour. ➡️Travel time It is recommended to set off at 7 o'clock, arrive at the sightseeing car entrance at 8 o'clock, queue for the sightseeing car for 5 minutes, queue for entry for 15 minutes, queue for diversion for 30 minutes, so that you can start the tour at 9 o'clock. If you come later between 9-10 o'clock, the parking lot of the scenic spot will be full and the road will be closed. You can only get off at the tourist distribution center, which means you have to take the scenic area bus to the entrance of the scenic area. It will take more time to queue at each point at least twice as much time. ➡️Do you need a tour guide Absolutely unnecessary. The tour guides soliciting customers at the entrance of the scenic area will only send them to the entrance of the hospital, don't expect them to climb stairs and queue with tourists.

The Maijishan Grottoes are located in Tianshui City, Gansu Province, and are known as one of the four major grottoes in China, along with the Mogao Caves, Longmen Grottoes, and Yungang Grottoes. They have a history of more than 1600 years. I visited Maijishan once in 2005. At that time, the mountain trail was made of wood, and it creaked when stepped on, which was quite scary. This time, on the way back to Beijing from a self-driving tour in western Sichuan, I visited again and felt a lot of changes. First, the mountain trail has been reinforced. Second, the scale of the scenic area has expanded. Third, the service facilities have been improved. The only thing that hasn't changed is the more than 200 caves and more than 3,000 Buddha statues carved by ancient people on the mountain. The Maijishan Grottoes were photographed on August 2, 2023.

🌈Friends, don't just know Tianshui for its hot and spicy soup! Here you can also explore the Maijishan Grottoes, one of China's four major grottoes. Plus, Tianshui's special cuisine is too numerous to count! With the climate just right, if you haven't been yet, hurry up and follow my lead to enjoy Tianshui! Remember to try to avoid the weekends~ 🚄Transportation: Direct high-speed train, smooth bus travel Tianshui's transportation is super convenient! Direct high-speed trains, and tourist lines have been opened between popular attractions, which is just too considerate! 🚌 🏨Accommodation: Comfortable and convenient near Fuxi Temple in Qinzhou District I recommend staying near Fuxi Temple in Qinzhou District, where dining and attractions are just a stone's throw away, and the prices are very people-friendly! 💸 🗺️Touring: Two days of non-stop excitement! 📆Day1: Explore the ancient charm of Tianshui, taste authentic cuisine From Tianshui South Station 👉 take a taxi directly to the antique street morning market (don't miss Master Wu's Gua Gua Noodles, Ye Ji's Apricot Tea, and other delicacies!) 👉 take bus No. 6 directly to Guangming Lane for food and fun (try Guangming Lane's cool skewers, Hou Ji's potato balls, and more!) 👉 explore Fuxi Temple 👉 walk to nearby streets to taste authentic Tianshui spicy hot soup 👉 in the evening, go for Fatty Fish Hotpot! 👉 at night, stroll and dine on Tianshui ancient street, feeling the charm of the ancient city at night. 📆Day2: Explore the grottoes, take in the natural scenery Take bus No. 34 directly to Maijishan Grottoes (for Line 1, it's recommended to choose Caves 133 and 127, absolutely stunning!) 👉 take bus No. 37/39 to Xianren Cliff 👉 then to Jingtusi 👉 note, the last bus No. 37 back to the city departs at 17:30, don't miss it! Lunch can be settled within the Maijishan Grottoes scenic area, with friendly prices and delicious food. Spend 2 hours at each scenic spot, about 1 hour by bus between spots, relaxed and fulfilling! 🍜Cuisine: The taste of Tianshui, a journey on the tip of the tongue In addition to the aforementioned delicacies, there are also special snacks such as pork fat boxes, spicy soup, and Mianwo waiting for you to try! Tianshui's spicy hot soup comes in a wide variety, Haiying, Yuannv, Eden... there's always one to satisfy your taste buds! 💡Tips: 1️⃣For friends interested in Taoism, consider taking a detour to Xianlong Palace in Yusheng Lane, a small and tranquil Taoist temple that will make you linger. 2️⃣Maijishan Grottoes now have Lines 1 and 2 for visiting, remember to book special caves in advance! Line 1 and Line 2 each have their own features, choose according to personal interest.

Tianshui City, formerly known as Qinzhou and Shanggui, is a prefecture-level city under the jurisdiction of Gansu Province, located in the southeast of Gansu Province. It is the secondary core city of the Guanzhong Plain city group and an important node city of the Silk Road Economic Belt. Tianshui City is named after the legend of 'Tianhe pouring water', and has a civilization history of about 8000 years. It is represented by 'Five Cultures' such as Fuxi culture, Dadiwan culture, early Qin culture, Maijishan grotto culture and Three Kingdoms ancient battlefield culture. The geomorphological regions of Tianshui City are clearly differentiated. The eastern and southern parts are uplifted due to the folding of ancient strata, forming mountainous terrain. The northern part is formed by geological subsidence and the deposition of red and yellow loess layers, forming loess hilly terrain. A small part of the central area is formed by the fracture of the latitudinal structural belt, forming the Weihe trench, and through the fourth river erosion and accumulation, forming the Weihe River Valley terrain. The northern part is a loess ridge and gully area. The Weihe River and its tributaries traverse it, forming a basin and river valley terrace with wide valleys and gorges. The middle and eastern parts are the Qinling and Guanshan mountain areas. The western Qinling mountains, dominated by the Jinhuang Mountain, Yunwu Mountain, and Jingdong Ridge, and the small Longshan and Longshan mountains in the east, dominated by the Bagua Mountain, Flame Mountain, Qinling Dabao, and Guanshan, are stacked with mountains and deep valleys. Tianshui City has a pleasant climate and is suitable for living and tourism. It has a temperate monsoon climate with an average annual temperature of 11°C. Tianshui historical culture: 1. Fuxi culture: The Fuxi culture that appeared more than 5,000 years ago is the source of Chinese culture and civilization. It is said that Emperor Fuxi invented the net and taught the people to fish and hunt, created the Eight Diagrams, distinguished surnames, and advocated the excellent culture of the Chinese nation such as colored pottery culture, jade culture, and dragon culture. 2. Dadiwan culture: Dadiwan culture is an ancient civilization created by the Huaxia ancestors in the Yellow River Basin and is one of the sources of Huaxia civilization. It is the earliest site discovered in the Neolithic Age in China. It is located in Shaodian Village, Wuying Township, 45 kilometers northeast of Qin'an County, Tianshui City, Gansu Province. It is the earliest and longest-lasting Paleolithic culture and Neolithic culture in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, existing about 4800 to 60000 years ago. 3. Grotto culture: One of the four major grottoes in China, Maijishan Grottoes, named after the mountain looks like a stack of wheat, is located about 30 kilometers southeast of Tianshui. According to historical records, the grottoes were built in the Later Qin (384-417), and were greatly developed during the Northern Wei Mingyuan Emperor and Taiwu Emperor period, and developed again after the Taihe first year of Emperor Xiaowen (477). After the death of Empress Yifu (Empress Yifu) of Emperor Wen of the Western Wei Dynasty, Maiji Cliff was excavated here for burial. During the Baoding and Tianhe years of the Northern Zhou Dynasty (561-572), Li Yunxin, the governor of Qinzhou, built the Seven Buddha Pavilion for his deceased father. In the first year of Emperor Wen of the Sui Dynasty (601), a tower was built on Maijishan to 'bury the relics of the divine nun', and after the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, it was continuously excavated and expanded, becoming one of the famous grotto groups in China. 4. Pre-Qin culture: Tianshui is the birthplace of the Qin State. The ancestor of the Qin people, Ying Feizi, was meritorious in horse herding here. In 890 BC, he was enfeoffed by King Xiao of Zhou in Qinting, which is the Tianshui area today. After more than 200 years of development and growth, he moved east to the Guanzhong area of Shaanxi in 762 BC and began the pace of unifying the six countries. During the process of unifying the six countries, the Qin people established Gui County and Ji County in Qingshui and Gangu, Tianshui City in 688 BC, which are the earliest counties in the history of China's city and county establishment. The early Qin culture remains are mainly concentrated in the Tianshui area of Gansu. 5. Three Kingdoms culture: During the Three Kingdoms period, the three kingdoms of Wei, Shu, and Wu were divided and dominated. Due to the important strategic position of Tianshui City, some emperors, generals, and military leaders staged a series of mighty and heroic historical dramas here. Stories such as Zhuge Liang's six outings to Qishan, losing Jieting, and receiving Jiang Wei all happened in Tianshui. Jieting is located in Longcheng Town, Qin'an County, 100 kilometers northeast of Qinzhou District, Tianshui City. There are war remains such as 'chaotic bone pile', 'big camp', 'permanent camp', 'ten thousand people tomb', and relics such as crossbows and horse stings. There are many ancient battlefield sites of the Three Kingdoms such as Jieting, Tianshui Pass, Mumen Road, and Zhuge Army Camp in the territory. Transportation situation Highway: Tianshui City has Lianyungang-Horgos Expressway, Shiyan-Tianshui Expressway, Tianshui-Pingliang Expressway and other expressways; it has National Highway 310, National Highway 316 and other national highways. Railway: Tianshui City's railways are accessible in all directions, with Longhai Railway, Xulan High-speed Railway Baolan Section, Tianping Railway and other railway lines; it has railway stations such as Tianshui Station, Tianshui South Station, Dongcha Station, Qin'an Station. Aviation: Tianshui Maijishan Airport is located on Xihuang Avenue, Maiji District, Tianshui City. Rail transit: Tianshui tram was opened on May 1, 2020, making Tianshui City the first city in the northwest region to open a tram.

Maijishan Grottoes, a place I've longed for a long time. 😄 Everyone says that the expressions of the sculptures here are comparable to emoticons, which to me just feel more down-to-earth and lively. Some of the expressions on the sculptures seem to have appeared on the faces of neighbors' uncles and aunties as well. The grottoes mainly preserve clay sculptures, which have continuously evolved over the dynasties. From the early and late Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang to the Song dynasties. Despite my fear of heights, I still think it's very worthwhile to see these precious works of art. 📖 Maijishan Grottoes 📍 Located in Maijishan Scenic Area, Maiji Town, Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province 🚗 Take Tianshui bus routes 5, 16, 34, or 60 and get off at Maijishan Station. 💰 80 RMB per person (adult ticket, excluding ticket exchange with ID); sightseeing car round trip 15 RMB per ride

YUQUAN TEMPLE 🌈Named for the 'Jade Spring' of the Yuan Dynasty. It boasts over 90 Taoist buildings and is known as the 'Number One Famous Temple in Southeastern Gansu'; Nanshan Scenic Area (Nanguo Temple) 🌈With a history of over a thousand years, it has been a favorite spot for poets and scholars throughout the ages. The great poet Du Fu wrote over 100 poems in praise of it during his visit. Tianshui Ancient City 🌈One of the largest and best-preserved residential courtyards from the Ming and Qing dynasties in the northwest region. It's better to go at night to see the night view. It's near the Fuxi Temple, and you can stay nearby at night and go directly to the Fuxi Temple the next day. An hour is enough Maijishan Grottoes 🌈Second only to the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, it is China's second-largest art cave and is known as the 'Eastern Art Sculpture Gallery'. It is one of the four major grottoes. The Maijishan area is the most worthwhile place to spend time. You can view from a distance and climb the plank road for a detailed appreciation. Generally, it takes about two hours, but if you like sculpture and mural art, time is not a limit. ⭐️Transportation: About 100 yuan by taxi from Tianshui South Station, or you can take a bus Maiji Never Night City: Intangible cultural heritage folk customs, performances, snacks, fruits, nearly 200 stalls, experience the local night market. Tianshui City Industrial Museum 🌈Features a science and technology experience hall, time corridor, and industrial history museum, providing insight into the industrial development of Tianshui. Maijishan Grottoes 🌈95 RMB per person for advance reservation includes the grotto scenic area + sightseeing car, and is known as one of China's four major grottoes along with the Mogao Caves, Longmen Grottoes, and Yungang Grottoes Maijishan Grottoes--Immortal Cliff 🌈This section has a direct bus for 50 RMB per person (including round-trip direct bus + Immortal Cliff ticket + scenic area sightseeing car) ⭐️It is really recommended to buy this as it is convenient and time-saving, and the scenery of Immortal Cliff is really good with very few tourists. It consists of three cliffs, five peaks, and six temples, mainly touring the three cliffs you can climb the mountain following the route 'West Cliff--East Cliff--South Cliff' without taking the same way back and not missing any scenery Tianshui Botanical Garden (inside Maijishan) 🌈Not considered a separate attraction, there are ice waterfalls in winter, which are still worth seeing. It takes about half an hour to walk in and out, and if you're looking at the ice waterfalls, it will take a bit longer. It's inside Maijishan and worth a visit. North and South Houses (Hu Family Ancestral Home) 🌈After breakfast, it's just a few steps away. This is the only remaining official residence from the Ming Dynasty in the northwest region. Because there are two parts, south and north, it is also called North and South Houses. The South House is larger, and the North is slightly smaller. There is an underground passage connecting the North and South Houses, but unfortunately, it was not open when we visited. This place is open to the public for free~ Behind the North and South Houses is the Temple of Literature, one and a half to two hours is enough Fuxi Temple and Tianshui Museum 🌈The entrance fee for Fuxi Temple is 20 RMB, and it is open for free at certain times. There is a large square in front of the gate, which is probably the place for holding grand ceremonies. The dragon and phoenix window inside is from the Ming Dynasty and is very exquisite. The little red figures used for blessings on the trees in the temple are also quite interesting. Behind the Fuxi Temple is the Tianshui Museum, which is free to visit and can be accessed directly.

✅✅ Listed as a World Cultural Heritage by UNESCO~ ✅✅ One of China's first batch of key cultural relics protection units~ ✅✅ Along with the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi, and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, it is known as one of the four major grottoes in China~ ♻️♻️ The Maijishan Grottoes, located in Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province, are a large group of grottoes on the Silk Road, representing one of the grotto groups of the Northern Dynasties in China. It is also an important part of the 'Silk Road: the Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Road Network'~ ♻️♻️ Known as 'where there is a niche, there is a Buddha; where there is a wall, there are flying Apsaras', the Maijishan Grottoes were first constructed during the Later Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, and after more than 1600 years of excavation and repair from the Northern Wei to the Qing Dynasty, the caves are densely packed like a beehive, with walkways soaring into the air, stacked upon each other. Its perilous and steep features are rare in the world, making it an important relic of Buddhist art on the Silk Road~ ♻️♻️ The sculptures preserved in the Maijishan Grottoes are mainly made of clay, comprehensively demonstrating the development and evolution of ancient clay sculpture. Its artistic style is influenced by the Western Regions, yet also incorporates the cultures of the Central Plains and southern regions of China, forming a unique regional characteristic. It is an important material for studying the history of ancient Chinese sculpture and fine arts, hence it is known as the 'Gallery of Oriental Sculpture'~ ✅✅ Must-see grottoes representatives: 1️⃣ Cave 4: Thin-bodied Flying Apsaras 2️⃣ Cave 13: The Great Buddha of East Asia 3️⃣ Cave 44: The Smile of the Orient 4️⃣ Cave 98: The Great Buddha on the West Cliff 5️⃣ Cave 121: Whispering 6️⃣ Cave 127: Jataka Tales Murals 7️⃣ Cave 133: Young Novice Monks 8️⃣ Cave 135: Paradise Cave ✅✅ The misty rain of Maijishan is like a mirage, ranking first among the eight scenic spots of Qinzhou, a rare and sought-after sight💯💯💯 🚙🚙 Transportation: There are bus routes to Maijishan Station in Tianshui city area, and the scenic area has convenient parking, recommended for self-driving~ Maijishan Grottoes

I've finally arrived at the other side of the Anywhere Door - Tianshui! Hey friends! 👋 If you have an uncontrollable passion for history and cuisine, then join me on a magical journey through Tianshui!🏰✨ This low-key and mysterious city awaits you to discover its endless treasures. 📍Must-visit attractions: 1️⃣ Maijishan Grottoes: The murals and Buddha statues here will make you worship the wisdom and talent of the ancients, as if you've traveled back to that era.🗿 2️⃣ Xianren Cliff: Not only can you feel the harmonious coexistence of Buddhism, Taoism, and Confucianism, but the tranquility between the mountains and waters is enough to make you forget the troubles of the mundane world.🍃 3️⃣ Guiqing Mountain: If you love the outdoors, you can also experience rock climbing and wading on Guiqing Mountain, getting up close and personal with nature.🏞 🍲 Food recommendations: 1️⃣ Tianshui Niangpi: The chewy noodles with sour and spicy seasoning will definitely brighten your eyes at the first bite! 2️⃣ Sweet Fermented Glutinous Rice: Made with local natural sweeteners, it's refreshing and sweet, a perfect remedy for the heat!🍦 3️⃣ Stir-fried Bola: The deliciousness of this authentic snack is a fusion of the art of cooking and seasoning! 🛌 Accommodation recommendations: Downtown five-star hotels such as Tianshui Hilton, Tianshui Hotel, etc., not only offer comfortable stays but also super convenient travel.🔑 🛍 Shopping guide: Step into Tianshui city, where a variety of characteristic handicrafts and local specialties await your discovery, ensuring you return home with a full load!🎁 During my days in Tianshui, I was deeply attracted by the charm of this city. Its history, culture, natural scenery, and cuisine all made me linger and forget to return. Have you also been attracted by such a Tianshui? See you in the comments section~ 🗨️

Tianshui tourism is finally heating up! The most impressive part of this trip to Tianshui was not the spicy hot pot, but the Maijishan Grottoes—it's like a Buddhist realm on the sheer cliffs! ❗️How to enjoy a crowd-free scenic spot? (Don't go when it's crowded, or you'll be bumping heads with the person in front of you hhhhhhhh) Tips: 📍1. The scenic area stops admitting visitors at 4:30 PM, so we plan to enter around 4 PM. By then, most tourists have finished their tours and left, allowing us to enjoy the site without disturbance, peacefully admiring and taking photos! 📍2. Take the sightseeing bus up, because walking up the slope can be tiring and time-consuming 📍3. It gets cool in the mountains in the morning and evening, don't forget to bring a jacket 📍4. Those with extreme fear of heights should be cautious, as you have to climb steps in the air (which is also the greatness of the Maijishan Grottoes). I have a mild fear of heights, but it's still acceptable to me Wandering up and down the layered pathways, lingering among the statues, the colored sculptures of Maijishan always have an attractive power that makes people stop and linger. This power comes from the soul of the sculptures, sometimes innocent and cute, sometimes compassionate and approachable, always making one feel that this is the human world, not an unattainable religious realm.

I set out on a mission to travel the starting points of the historical silk road, as a solo traveler who speaks very little Chinese. This opportunity put me at the forefront of seeing some places that seem far flung from the mass cities in the east. Maijishan Grottoes are carved into the beautiful mountain the rises from the ground, high into the sky. There are intricately carved designs and Buddhas on this beautiful mountain, that allowed travelers to stop, rest and pray for good passage. On the day I arrived, the weather was bad, so you couldn't climb the grottoes themselves, but to see this beautiful place is worth it. I stayed in the village just outside of the scenic area, I suggest for any future travelers, you visit the city of Tianshui, and take a bus or a taxi to the scenic area. #historicculture#naturalwonders#culturalattractions#nationalpark#hiking