Atlas of China
Tiantishan Caves 天梯山石窟Tiāntīshān Shíkū
4A scenic area · National heritage site · Wuwei, Gansu
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Wuwei
- Region
- Gansu
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- 4A scenic area, National heritage site
About Tiantishan Caves
Among the earliest Buddhist cave temples in China, cut into cliffs above the Huangyang River in the Qilian foothills from the time of the Northern Liang ruler Juqu Mengxun in the early fifth century and reworked up to the Qing; 19 caves survive in three tiers. When a reservoir was built at the foot of the cliff in 1959–60, most sculptures and some murals were moved to the Gansu Provincial Museum, but the largest group, a monumental seated Buddha with attendants, stayed in place and has been shielded from the reservoir water by a cofferdam since 1992; a site exhibition hall tells the caves' story.
How to get to Tiantishan Caves
About 55 km by road south of Wuwei city, roughly an hour.
Nearby
Also within 20 km: Gulang Battle Memorial Hall 古浪战役纪念馆 (20 km).
On the map
Open Tiantishan Caves on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it and what else is close, and to add it to a trip.
Open Tiantishan Caves on the map