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
Free with a timed reservation
Hours
Tuesday-Sunday: entry from 08:30, last entry 17:30, closes 18:00; closed Monday except public holidays
Transport
No metro. Use the City Museum (市博物馆) bus stop near the north gate.
Duration
1.5-2 hours
Best Time
Year-round; start by 16:00 for enough gallery time
Visitors
All ages
How to Visit
1
Make a timed reservation through the museum WeChat account
The museum is free but still requires a ticket reservation. Show the reservation information for verification at the entrance. Visitors unable to use a smartphone can present their own ID at the staffed counter.
Tip:Free does not mean no reservation; without one, same-day entry may be affected.
2
Enter through the museum's north gate
The nearby City Museum bus stop is served by 7, 14, 18, 21, 24, 26, 83 and 96. This entrance is the practical choice for a museum-only visit.
Tip:Do not begin at Fuxi Temple's ticket office and then look for the museum; the museum and temple are adjacent but operate separately.
3
See the chronological exhibition, then focus on key galleries
Use the Eight Thousand Years of Memory exhibition to establish the timeline, then focus on painted pottery, bronzes, rubbings and the Harmony of Hu and Han display. Allow around 1.5-2 hours.
Tip:Galleries are spread across different courtyards, so check the visitor map on arrival rather than leaving after the first gallery.
4
Schedule Fuxi Temple or the ancient city after the museum
The museum opens Tuesday-Sunday from 08:30, stops admitting visitors at 17:30, and closes at 18:00. If continuing to Fuxi Temple, buy a separate ticket and arrive before its 17:30 final entry.
Tip:The museum is closed on Mondays, except public holidays; do not make it a fixed part of a Monday Fuxi Temple itinerary.
Highlights
- The collection traces local history from prehistoric painted pottery to later periods.
- The Harmony of Hu and Han display is a useful focus for Silk Road cultural exchange.
- Pottery, bronzes, figurines and rubbings provide distinct materials and periods to compare.
- The museum sits beside Fuxi Temple, making the two easy to combine without combining their tickets or reservations.
Insider Tips
✦Free entry still requires a reservation; individual timed reservations are made through the official WeChat account.
✦The museum opens Tuesday-Sunday, stops entry at 17:30 and closes at 18:00; begin by 16:00 at the latest.
✦Use the north gate for the museum only; buy a separate ticket later if continuing to Fuxi Temple.
✦Do not use flash photography, and observe restrictions in individual galleries.
More Tianshui Attractions
02City Guide
Tianshui Maijishan Scenic Area
天水麦积山风景名胜区
Adults Focused
Admission
Type A: CNY 80, includes the grottoes; Type B: CNY 25, excludes the grottoes.
Typical Visit
1-2 days
03Historic Walk
Fuxi Temple
伏羲庙
All Ages
Admission
CNY 20 for adults
Typical Visit
60-90 minutes
04Historic Walk
Tianshui Ancient City
天水古城
All Ages
Admission
Free public streets; individual venues set their own entry rules
Typical Visit
1-2 hours
05Historic Walk
Yuquanguan Scenic Area
玉泉观景区
All Ages
Admission
CNY 20 for adults
Typical Visit
1.5-2 hours
06City Guide
Immortal Cliff
仙人崖
Adults Focused
Admission
Adult ticket: CNY 40. The CNY 10 round-trip shuttle may be a separate line item or included.
Typical Visit
2.5-3 hours