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| Mati Grottoes, Zhanye, Gansu |
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| Thousand Buddha Cave Zhangye, Gansu |
Day 24 Friday Sept 19 2025 (Zhangye, Gansu) Part 3 - recommended a 1/2 Day Tour No 2 by our hostel to visit Mati Grottoes, Zangye, Gansu, shared transport Y$60 (departing hostel at 07.30 returning to city at 13.30), free admission for Senior above 70+, internal shuttle bus Y$13.
1) Early morning breakfast (06.30) in a Muslim beef ramen noodle restaurant nearby our hostel, each of us savoured a bowl of hot beef noodle soup Y$7 prior to our visit to Mati Grottoes .
2) Private vehicle pick up from our hostel at 07.15, a group of 3 for this morning 1/2 day tour to Mati Grottoes.
3) Arriving & a brief walk from the commercial / food street to Tourist Centre, Mati Grottoes, Zhangye, Gansu, rows & rows of colourful Tibetan flag lines welcoming / greeting visitors ! Admission fee for adults Y$35, free admission for seniors above 70+, shuttle bus Y$13.
4) Mati Grottoes, Zhangye, Gansu - approx 80km from Zhangye city, cave temple built in the Northern Liang Dynasty era (around 1,600 years ago) along the ancient Silk Road, renowned for Buddhist relics, with 500 Buddha statutes, numerous frescos as well as murals spanning a total of over 1,200 sq meters.
5) Shuttler bus ride from Tourist Center > Mati Grottoes, Zhangyem Gansu & a short uphill walk to North Temple Grottoes.
6) Entry to North Temple Grottoes (Thirty Three Heavens Grottoes), Mati Grottoes, Zhangye, Gansu.
Horseshoe North Temple Grotto - it is the important component of the Horseshoe North temple Grotto Complex. There are 9 numbered caves, 30 cave niches. All caves were dug in Yuan Dynasty. According to the analysis of the characteristics of the existing statues & murals, most are works of Yuan Dynasty. The pre-existing large scale Tibetan Buddhism monasteries in the cave no longer exist as a result of the destruction of nature & human. North temple Cave 3 & 7 are in large scale with unique structure, which are of great scientific value & artistic value in the history of cave digging.
7) Cangfo Temple, Mati Grottoes, Zhangye, Gansu - named after a standing Buddha statue over 8 meters tall, which is located in the cave, the abdomen of this Buddha statute houses a white jade image of the Tara goddess, the temple is grand in scale, with intricate construction & a unique design; the cave's layout is in the shape of the Chinese character "Tu" with a length of 15 meters , it consists of a front hall, worship hall & corridor, making it one of the largest Buddha caves in China in terms of individual floor area, inside the cave , there is a well known as the "Eight Merits Holy Water" which according to legend, can strengthen the body, cure diseases & ward off disasters when consumed.
8) Mati Hall, Mati Grottoes, Zhangye, Gansu - a central pillar cave, named after the deep horseshoe -shaped hoof print left on the rocky floor inside, which appears to be imprint of a heavenly horse that one drank water there. It is said to be a divine mark left by the celestial steed, and the temple and mountain have been named after it. In the center of the cave's pillar , there is a niche with a sculpture of three figures, Tsongkhapa & his disciples. The passage inside the cave features statutes of the Four Heavenly Kings & the Eighteen Arhats. The hoof print has attracted numerous visitors from both China & abroad, making it a popular destination. Hence, there is a saying that "Visiting the Horseshoe Temple means seeing the horseshoe print".
9) Thirty Three Heavens Grottoes, Mati Grottoes, Zhangye, Gansu - The Thirty Three Heavens, a translation of the Sanskrit term "Tavari" is described in Buddhist scriptures realm located at the summit of Mount Meru . At its center is the Heavenly King Indra (also known as Sajra), and in each of its four directions, there are eight celestial cities totalling thirty three heavens. These heavens belong to the Desire Realm & are considered the highest level of existence. With bold imagination, ancient craftsmen carved the "Thirty-Three Heavens" into the steep red sandstone cliff faces, creating a representation of the celestial realm on Earth. This grotto complex is a landmark feature of the Mati Temple Grottoes. The site consists of seven layers & 21 caves, with tunnels connecting layer. The tunnels within the mountain's interior follow a zigzagging path, winding & complex. The Thirty-Three Heavens Grottoes are uniquely designed & grand in scale, making them extremely rare in China. They are regraded as a miracle in the history of Chinese grotto architecture.
10) Thousand Buddha Cave Grottoes - a natural key cultural heritage protection unit & an important part of the Matin Temple Grottoes. They are carved into the the steep red sandstone cliff & are naturally divided into three sections ie South, Middle & North, based on the terrain of the cliff. The South Section (Cave 1-4) represents the early period of the Northern Dynasties. The statutes & murals inside these caves are exquisitely detailed, with graceful & elegant form, making them masterpiece of grotto art. The Middle Section consists of grottoes associated with Han Chinese Buddhism. Among them, the statute carvings in Cave 6 are hailed as a "majestic & robust masterpiece of the Sui Dynasty. These carvings are both intricately detailed & a strikingly powerful. The North Section features cliff-carved stupa forests, where the stupas are carved directly into the mountainside. The stupas vary in in size & shape, arranged in a scattered yet harmonious manner. The diverse sculptural styles make this a valuable historical relic for studying the development of ancient Chinese sculpture & the transmission of religious culture.
11) The Guanyin Hall, Thousand Buddha Cave - enshrines the Eleven-Headed Guanyin, one of the six forms of Guanyin. Guanyin with her boundless compassion & deep mercy, uses her thousand hands to protect all sentient beings & her thousand eyes to observe the world. The Eleven-Headed Guangyin has a total of of eleven faces, arranged in five tiers. The first face represents the transformation of evil beings into good ones. The second face is the face of compassion, transforming those with virtuous qualities. The third face is the face of serenity, guiding beings to cultivate pure practices for transcending the world. These three faces represent the teachings of the Three Realms, accounting for nine of the faces. The tenth face is the face of fierce laugh, symbolising the need for immense authority & determination in the work of teaching to ensure success without obstacles. The topmost face represents Buddhahood, symbolising the ultimate perfection of merit & virtues.
12) The Mahavira Hall, Thousand Buddha Cave -also known as the main hall, features the central figure of the "Shakyamuni Buddha of Central Saha World" in the middle, with the "Medicine Buddha of the Eastern Pure Lapis Lazuli World" on the left & the " Amitabha Buddha of the Western Pure Land" on the right. "Mahavira is an honorary title for Shakyamuni Buddha , signifying his profound wisdom & his ability to dominate & protect the vast universe. Therefore, Buddhist disciples revere him as the "Great Hero" or "Mahavira". The term "Hall" in "Mahavira Hall" refers to the Three Jewels of Buddhism - Buddha, Dharma & Sangha.
13) The Western Three Saints Hall, Thousand Buddha Cave - commonly known as the "Standing Buddha Hall" , it is numbered as Cave 6 & dates back to the Sui Dynasty. Inside the cave, there is a stone sculpture of one Buddha & two disciples. The main statute is a standing Buddha, about 4.8 meters tall, representing Liu Saha Rui, with some modern alternations. The sculpture is finely crafted, majestic & solid, with a dignified expression, earning it the reputation as "a masterpiece" of the Sui Dynasty with magnificent & robust spirit. In modern times, ststutes of the Bodhisattvas Mahasthamaprapta & Avalokiteshvara (Guanyin) were rsetored, which is why this hall is also referred to as the Western Three Saints Hall.
14) A short walk back to the Tourist Centre to meet up with our car driver to take us back to our hostel in Zhangye city so that both of us could sign up an afternoon 1/2 day tour to visit the Pingshanhu Grand Canyon.
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