As one of China's four major cave complexes, the Maijishan Grottoes stand as an iconic cultural landmark and a treasure trove of art.
This 1,600-year-old scenic wonder is carved into the caves of an isolated mountain peak along the ancient Silk Road in Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province.
First constructed in the Later Qin period (384-417), it developed over the course of more than 10 successive dynasties, including the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Yuan, Ming, and Qing.
The statues there have integrated the techniques and artistic characteristics of various dynasties and ethnic groups in ancient China. Currently, there are 221 existing caves housing 3,938 diverse and distinguished statues and nearly 1,000 square meters of murals, earning it the title of "Oriental Sculpture Exhibition Hall."
It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2014.