On this trip to the Hexi Corridor in Gansu, we've checked off the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Yulin Caves, and Mati Temple Grottoes🛕. Adding these to the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, and Wanfotang Grottoes in Jinzhou that we've visited previously, this grotto pilgrimage is truly complete!
Today, we finally arrived at the last stop of our Gansu Hexi Corridor trip—Tiantishan Grottoes!🎉 Also known as the Liangzhou Grottoes or Liangzhou Giant Buddha Grottoes, it is a national 4A-level tourist attraction. 📍Located in Dengshan Village, Huangyang Town, Liangzhou District, Wuwei City, it has a history of over 1,600 years. The historical depth here is absolutely amazing!
🌟Here's the key point! Tiantishan Grottoes is one of the earliest excavated grottoes in China and a representative of early Chinese grotto art. Its core significance lies in establishing the "Liangzhou Model," which directly nurtured the two major imperial grotto systems of Yungang and Longmen! It is known in academia as the "ancestor of grottoes," so its status speaks for itself~
"Continuous construction through the dynasties and layered distribution of cultural relics" is a key feature of the murals and sculptures at Tiantishan Grottoes. There are 18 caves remaining across 3 levels, along with the natural landscape of "Snow on the Heavenly Ladder," one of the eight scenic spots of Liangzhou❄️
Cave 13, the Giant Buddha Cave, is the only cave open to visitors. Excavated during the Tang Dynasty, the main statue of the Sakyamuni Buddha stands 28 meters tall. The cave preserves a total of 7 statues: one Buddha, two disciples, two bodhisattvas, and two heavenly kings. Standing at the feet of the Giant Buddha, you'll be truly stunned into silence by its solemnity🤯
The north and south walls inside the Giant Buddha Cave are painted with large murals. The brushwork is fresh, the colors are vibrant, and the figures are lifelike. Moving forward, the 17 small caves to the left and above the Giant Buddha Cave are severely eroded and have become natural stone caves. Some statues and murals remain inside, including Northern Wei stone Buddha heads, Northern Zhou and Sui bodhisattva statues, and Tang Sakyamuni preaching statues. Few murals are preserved, but many are overlapping—some up to 5 layers deep. The peeled-off, multi-layered murals reveal residual paintings from the Northern Liang, Northern Wei, and Tang dynasties. The Northern Liang murals, in particular, feature bodhisattvas with straight noses, large eyes, thick lips, white nose bridges, and jeweled curly hair, with half-naked upper bodies and long skirts wrapped around their waists. These show clear characteristics of early Western Regions murals and possess a simple, unadorned beauty👀
In 1958, due to the construction of the Huangyang River Reservoir, and with the approval of the Ministry of Culture requested by the provincial government, all cultural relics except those in the Giant Buddha Cave were moved to the Gansu Provincial Museum for preservation. It seems a bit dry this year, and the water in the reservoir is not very abundant💧
Finally, a quick summary❗
1️⃣The admission ticket is affordable, and tourists born in the Year of the Horse can visit for free this year.
2️⃣Except for the largest No. 13 Giant Buddha, the rest are on display at the Gansu Provincial Museum. If you're short on time, just go directly to the provincial museum.
3️⃣For those visiting Gansu, I recommend watching the documentary "Hexi Corridor" first.
After visiting Tiantishan today, we'll head to Lanzhou to catch our flight home~ There are still the Binglingsi Grottoes and Maijishan Grottoes in Gansu that we haven't seen, so we'll have to wait until next time to explore them!
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