Maijishan Grottoes, Buddhist cave complex in Tianshui, China
Maijishan Grottoes is a Buddhist cave complex carved into a sandstone mountain near Tianshui. The carved and painted chambers hold thousands of stone statues and murals that cover the rocky surfaces.
Work on these caves began during the Later Qin period, an important time when Buddhism was spreading along the Silk Road. Carving and painting continued for centuries as different rulers controlled the region.
The sculptures here show how Buddhist art evolved across different periods, mixing styles from distant regions. As you walk through the caves, you notice how the artistic approaches changed over time.
You reach the caves by climbing steep stairways and walkways built into the mountainside. Wear sturdy shoes and be prepared for a moderate physical effort.
One cave here holds around 15,000 Buddha statues packed into a relatively small space, making it the most concentrated collection on site. This was achieved by carving smaller figures and filling every available nook and surface.
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