01City Guide
Maijishan Grottoes
麦积山石窟
Adults Focused
Admission
Type A: CNY 80, includes the grottoes; Type B: CNY 25, excludes the grottoes.
Typical Visit
2.5-3 hours
Quick Facts
Ticket
CNY 30 adult; CNY 15 students and ages 60-64; free for ages 65+ and other eligible groups
Hours
Summer 08:00-18:00, last entry 17:30; winter 08:30-17:30
Transport
No direct metro; Gangu Station, then local bus 2/5 or taxi
Duration
2-3 hours for the full route
How to Visit
1
Arrive at Gangu Station, then travel to the Daxiangshan entrance square.
The site is about 2.5 km southwest of Gangu County. From Gangu Station, take local bus 2 or 5, or use a taxi.
Tip:Local buses finish relatively early in the evening, so do not time your descent close to the last service.
2
Buy a ticket at the entrance and choose the visit length according to your fitness.
Adult admission is CNY 30. Students and visitors aged 60-64 pay CNY 15; visitors aged 65 and above, along with other eligible groups, enter free. No advance reservation is required. Summer hours are 08:00-18:00, with entry stopping at 17:30; winter hours are 08:30-17:30.
Tip:There is no cable car or sightseeing vehicle, so assess whether you can manage sustained uphill steps before entering.
3
For a first visit, climb in the order Jiang Wei Hall—Taihao Palace—Thousand Buddha Cave—Wenchang Pavilion—Luban Hall—Great Buddha Hall—summit viewpoint—Yongming Temple.
This route moves from the lower historic buildings into the main grotto area and ends at the 23.3-metre Tang-dynasty Buddha. Allow about 2-3 hours for the full visit.
Tip:Do not rush the first climb. Using too much energy early can make the Great Buddha Hall and upper viewpoints feel hurried.
4
Allow enough time and water for the stair route back down.
The route has about 1.5 km of steps, taking around 40 minutes uphill and 30 minutes downhill. Wenchang Pavilion is a practical mid-route rest stop.
Tip:Rest areas on the mountain are limited, so bring water. Flash photography is prohibited inside the grottoes.
Highlights
- The 23.3-metre Tang-dynasty Buddha in Great Buddha Hall is a major large-scale Tang image in the Wei River valley.
- The site has 22 grottoes, linked with historic buildings by mountainside walkways.
- Taihao Palace, Wenchang Pavilion and Luban Hall make the ascent more than a single stair climb.
- Wenchang Pavilion and the summit provide views across Gangu County and make useful rest points on the way up.
- Look for suspended sculptural details such as the kalavinka in the Great Buddha Cave, but do not block narrow passages for photographs.
Insider Tips
✦If time is short, take the entrance—Taihao Palace—Wenchang Pavilion—Great Buddha Hall—descent route, allowing about 1-1.5 hours.
✦In summer, arrive early because the stair route receives strong sun. In wet weather, take extra care on wooden walkways and stone steps.
✦Parking is limited during holidays, so self-driving visitors should arrive before their planned entry time.
✦The descent puts real pressure on the knees; use short steps and shoes with good grip.
✦If you want more context on the grottoes and buildings, ask on site whether guiding is available. Do not assume that every grotto dates to the Tang dynasty.
More Tianshui Attractions
02City Guide
Tianshui Maijishan Scenic Area
天水麦积山风景名胜区
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Typical Visit
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