Mati Temple, fairyland on earth

Located at the foot of Linsong Mountain in Sunan Yugu Autonomous County, Zhangye City, northwest China's Gansu Province, the main scenic spot of Mati Temple covers an area of 13.85 square kilometers.

First built in the northern Liang period (397-460), Mati Temple is a famous Buddhist site along the historical Hexi Corridor. The whole Buddhist temple complex is composed of Shenguo Temple, Puguang Temple, Qianfo Cave (Thousand Buddha temple), Jinta Temple, Upper Guanyin Cave, Middle Guanyin Cave and Lower Guanyin Cave.

With a history of more than 1,600 years, the Mati Temple Grottoes, together with Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang and Yulin Grottoes in Anxi, are called the "three art treasures of Hexi Buddhism."   (Photo/Zhao Jianwei)