Image Via: WestChinGO
The Horsehoof Temple is a place where artists and caves meet. The central attraction of this place is the rock carving which isn’t ordinary. It stands out from the rest due to its unique design and artwork features. The central attraction also features beautiful natural caves which are now open to visitors as part of the park’s facilities.
The Horsehoof Temple (also known as Stone Lion Cave) is a cave located in northern China’s Gansu province. The cave is named after the sculpture, which features a lion with its paw on a horse’s head that was carved into part of the ceiling by hand. The Horsehoof Temple has been popular among Chinese travelers because of its striking architecture and religious significance. It has even gained the nickname Big Snake Cave due to its snake-like design, although it is actually called Horse Hoof Temple for obvious reasons.
The Horsehoof Temple is a must-see in Zhangye County, Gansu Province. It is located 65 kilometers away from the urban area of Zhangye City, and it has been an important tourist destination since ancient times. It integrates the art of caves with the scenery of Qilian Mountain, and it integrates Yugu customs with the art of caves.
The Mati Temple Grotto was built in Beiliang and is a large-scale grotto group. Including Qianfo Cave, Shengguo Temple, Puguang Temple, Thousand Buddha Cave, Jinta Temple, North and South Horseshoe Temple, Shangzhongxia Guanyin Cave, and Jinta Temple. There are more than 30 caves in each small cave group (there are two caves in each small cave group), so you can expect over 70 caves altogether!
In total there are more than 30 kilometers worth of caves!
If you’ve been to Zhangye, you know that one of the most amazing things about it is its beautiful grottos. The Horse Hoof Temple and Mati Grotto are two of the most popular among travelers, and I’m going to tell you how to experience them when you visit Zhangye.
The Horse Hoof Temple is located in the village of Liuyuan (also known as Liuyuan Shan), which sits just outside of Zhangye City. It was built in the year AD 557 by Northern Wei Emperor Wenxuan, who was also responsible for constructing the original city walls that surround it today.
The grounds of this temple are gorgeous—the rock formations look like they were formed by nature and wind rather than human hands—and they’re surrounded by gorgeous green hills dotted with trees. The whole area feels like an idyllic dreamscape: a perfect place for a picnic lunch!
If you’ve got time for more than a quick stop at the Horse Hoof Temple, then consider taking a hike down into one of its many caves; this will give you even more opportunities to admire its beauty up close!
The Horsehoof Temple and the Mati Temple Grotto have been a highlight of Zhangye for centuries. They will continue to draw travelers to Zhangye for the time being, and it may be a while before this all changes. But whatever happens in the future, they are sites that should not be missed.
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