|
 These
grottoes are found on
the precipices of Maiji
Mountain thirty
kilometers south of
Tianshui County, Gansu
Province. Maiji Mountain
is a green and graceful
peak in the western part
of the grand Qinling
Range. The grottoes were
cut during a period of
1,500 years from the
Later Qin Dynasty
(384-417) up to the Qing
Dynasty (1644-1911).
During an earthquake in
the seventh century, the
cliff broke in two and
the grottoes were thus
divided into east and
west sections. The 194
remaining grottoes today
contain a total of seven
thousand clay and stone
statues and 1,300 square
metres of mural
paintings. The
sculptures representing
celestial figures
portray them as real
people, full of life and
energy. |
