Tianshui Attractions

The Grottoes of Maijishan (Maijishan Shiku), situated 300km/185mi southeast of Lanzhou on the outskirts of the little town of Tianshui, can be reached from Lanzhou by train. The 194 grottoes, which date from the 4th C onwards, were hewn out of two walls of rock and contain over 7000 sculptures and 1300 sq.m/14,000 sq.ft of frescos. Among the motives represented here there are Buddhistic themes and scenes from the political and everyday life of the era.

The Daxiang Giant Buddha can be reached on foot along a path that leads from Tianshui. The statue is 23 km high and features a serious facial expression. It is part of a cliff on the Giant Statue Mountain and features the style of the Tang dynasty.

Fuxi Temple was begun during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) and renovated in the Qing dynasty (1644-1911). The temple grounds are still covered by lovely cypress trees, some up to a thousand years old. The temple features numerous archways, temples, terraces and a grand Main Hall.

The Water Curtain Caves are highlighted by the Lashao Temple (Laoshao si) within the main cave. The largest of the halls is the two-storey Buddha Hall, with the ground floor occupied by a pond. The cliff outside the cave has a 31 m statue of the Buddha Sakyamuni.