Maijishan National Park (麦积山国家公园) is in Gansu province.

Understand

The 194 cave shrines of this "Gallery of Oriental Sculpture' on a perpendicular mountain cliff southeast of Tianshui, provide shelter for 7200 stone and clay figurines and 1300 m² of murals. The clay figures, crafted to the smallest detail and blending lifelike imagery with spiritual resonance, are paragons of ancient Chinese clay sculpture.

Visitor information and services

• 1 Maijishan Tourist Service Center (麦积山游客服务中心), Xiamen Village, Ganquan Town, Maijishan District (麦积山区甘泉镇峡门村) (take bus no. 5, 30, 34, 37 or 60 to get here; after purchasing your tickets, you may choose to either get a shuttle bus to the park entrance or take bus no. 5, 34 or 60; the distance between the tourist service center and the park entrance is about 8½ km), ☏ +86 938 2518178. If you are unable to purchase your tickets online, you will need to come here first to purchase your tickets. Tickets are no longer sold at the park entrance. (updated Sep 2024)

Get in

Buses depart from Maijishan District in Tianshui. From Tianshui South station, take bus 5 or 60 (¥7, about an hour, last return at 16:40). From Tianshui station, take bus 34 (¥5, about an hour, slightly longer hours of operation).

Fees and permits

Admission to the park is ¥90. If you don't want to walk 1.5km to the base of the cliff, you can pay ¥15 extra (return) to ride a shuttle golf cart.

Get around

You can pay for a shuttle to get you 1.5km closer to the base of the cliff. The grottoes themselves can only be accessed on foot, via a complex network of walkways and stairways.

See

• Colossal Buddhas - several colossal Buddhas grace the side of the mountain
• Gallery views - view from the galleries of the surrounding landscape
• Botanical gardens - plants brought from near and far

Sleep