The spectacle of pagoda-shaped grottoes carved into the cliff, you can only climb up with hands and feet

When I first came to Zhangye, I fell in love with Zhangye. When I first swiped to the Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave, I listed it as my must-go list. 💙About Matisi 🔹Matisi was carved in the Eastern Jin Dynasty and the Sixteen Kingdoms of the Northern Liang period, about 1600 years ago. The grotto is 10 meters deep, 10 meters wide, and 3 meters high, a typical central pillar grotto. The central pillar is carved with statues, all of which were sculpted in modern times, including the founder of the Gelug sect, Tsongkhapa and his disciples. There are Ming Dynasty murals remaining on the walls of the cave. There is a horseshoe mark left in front of the left side of the central pillar, which is said to be the miracle of the heavenly horse of the Tibetan hero King Gesar, hence the name Matisi. 🔹Matisi Grottoes are composed of Shengguo Temple, Puguang Temple, Thousand Buddha Cave, Jinta Temple, Upper, Middle, and Lower Guanyin Caves, with more than 70 grottoes, which were built in the Northern Liang. 💙Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave 🔹The Thirty-three Caves that I am interested in belong to Puguang Temple in Matisi Scenic Area. The Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave is also the main building of Matisi. It is carved along the mountain and has seven layers of step-style buildings. 🔹The exterior of the Thirty-three Caves is in the shape of a pagoda, and the caves carved inside are very steep, narrow inside, almost vertical stairs, and you can only climb up with hands and feet. 🔹The main worship inside is the Buddha statue of Tibetan Buddhism, and the top floor is dedicated to the Green Tara. Unfortunately, the interior has been severely damaged. Looking at the wall full of 'XXX has been here', the shock and regret are indescribable. 💙Standing Buddha Hall Next to the Thirty-three Days Buddha Cave is the Standing Buddha Hall, also known as the Tibetan Buddha Hall. This grotto is the largest grotto in Matisi and the largest single grotto in China. The grotto was carved in the Northern Wei Dynasty and consists of a front hall, a worship hall, and a corridor. The original statue in the cave was hoped for in the Yuan Dynasty, with a total of 48 kinds. There is a well at the corner of the right corridor, the well is only more than 3 meters deep, and it is called 'Eight Merits Holy Water' by Buddhist believers. It is said that drinking this water can make people strong and healthy, without disasters and diseases. 💙Small tips: 1. Although it is niche, 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 also belongs to 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. The Thirty-three Days Cave is limited in flow, the interior is narrow, and those with poor physical strength do not need to climb up. The entrance and exit are one-way, with staff guidance, and there are many queues in the peak season. ✅Practical information ▫️Name: Matisi 📍Address: Matisi Scenic Area, Sunan Yugur 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