Maijishan Grottoes.

The Maijishan Grottoes are located in Maiji District, Tianshui City, Gansu Province. They are one of the four major grottoes in China, and are as famous as the Mogao Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, and Yungang Grottoes. The following is a detailed introduction to the Maijishan Grottoes: I. History Construction time: The Maijishan Grottoes were built during the Later Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms, and have been excavated and repaired for more than 1,600 years through more than ten dynasties such as the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing, forming the spectacular scene we see today. Protection status: On March 4, 1961, the Maijishan Grottoes were approved by the State Council of the People's Republic of China as the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. On June 22, 2014, as part of the "Silk Road: Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor Road Network", the Maijishan Grottoes were announced by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage. II. Geographic Location and Features Geographic location: The Maijishan Grottoes are located on the north side of the western end of the Qinling Mountains. They are a solitary peak in the Xiaolong Mountains, 142 meters high, and are named after the shape of the mountain like a farmer's wheat stack. Features: The Maijishan Grottoes are known for their exquisite clay sculpture art and are known as the "Oriental Sculpture Exhibition Hall". There are 221 existing caves, 3,938 various statues with 10,632 bodies, and 979.54 square meters of murals. These statues and murals not only show the superb skills of ancient artists, but also reflect the development and evolution of Chinese clay sculpture art. III. Management and Protection Management agency: The Maijishan Grottoes Art Research Institute is the protection management agency of the Maijishan Grottoes, mainly responsible for the research of grotto art, cultural relics protection and utilization, reception of domestic and foreign tourists, and external publicity. Protection work: The protection of the Maijishan Grottoes has always been valued, and scientific methods and means are used for protection and research to ensure that this precious cultural heritage is properly preserved and inherited. IV. Tourism and Visit Opening hours: The opening hours of the Maijishan Grottoes are generally from morning to afternoon every day (the specific time may be adjusted due to seasons and holidays), and tourists can visit and tour during this time period. Visit notes: In order to protect the cultural relics and environment in the grottoes, tourists need to abide by relevant regulations when visiting, such as not touching or damaging cultural relics, not smoking, etc. At the same time, it is recommended that tourists inquire about ticket information and traffic routes in advance to better arrange their itinerary. V. Cultural Value Artistic value: The clay sculptures and murals of the Maijishan Grottoes have extremely high artistic value, showing the creativity and aesthetic concepts of ancient artists. Historical value: As a cultural heritage that has lasted for more than a thousand years, the Maijishan Grottoes have witnessed the historical changes and cultural exchanges in ancient China and have important historical value. Scientific value: The Maijishan Grottoes also provide rich materials and historical facts for future generations to study Chinese Buddhist culture, religious art, architectural technology, etc., and have significant scientific value. In summary, the Maijishan Grottoes are a precious cultural heritage that integrates artistic, historical, and scientific values, and are worth visiting and exploring by every tourist.