Maiji Mountain Scenic Area lies southeast of Tianshui, Gansu, covering 215 square kilometres. Rated a national 5A-level attraction, it belongs to the World Heritage site “Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang’an-Tianshan Corridor”.
The most famous highlight, Maijishan Grottoes, ranks alongside Mogao, Yungang and Longmen Grottoes as China’s Four Great Grottoes. Excavation began in the Later Qin Dynasty, spanning over 1,600 years across many dynasties. Unlike other grotto sites famous for murals or stone carvings, Maiji Mountain is celebrated for its vivid clay sculptures with delicate facial expressions, earning the title of Oriental Sculpture Museum.
Narrow hanging plank roads wind along the steep cliff face, bringing travellers close to the caves and statues. Beyond the grottoes, the scenic compound also features Xianren Cliff with more cliff temples, Stone Gate known for mountain peaks, and Quxi, a lush forest valley. Surrounded by rich vegetation, it is unique among Chinese grotto sites for combining world-class Buddhist art with refreshing mountain landscapes.