Maiji Mountain｜The "Oriental Smile" from 1600 Years Ago

A Sculpture Museum on the Cliff, the Buddhist Code 100 Years Older than Mogao Caves! ⏰ Golden Hours ✅ First Rush to East Cliff before 09:00: Morning light pierces the mist, the Great Buddha's pupils glow blue (only on sunny mornings!) ✅ Visit Special Caves around 12:00: Avoid crowds and savor the teary-eyed "Sakyamuni Meeting His Son" in Cave 133 🎫 Ticket Tips ▪️ General Cave Ticket: ¥80 + Sightseeing Bus ¥30 (Mandatory, 2 bus segments; refundable if one segment is unused) ▪️ Must-See Special Caves: Cave 133 (¥180) for the "Eternal Smile" of the Little Monk + Cave 44 (¥120) the "Oriental Mona Lisa" 🗺️ 3-Hour Power Walk Route 09:00 Take the sightseeing bus or drive to the mountain base 09:30 Admire the smiling Buddha in Cave 44 (flashlight reveals hidden details), climb the plank path to touch the Sui Dynasty robe folds of the East Cliff Great Buddha (Cave 13) 10:30 Explore Cave 9's Northern Song Buddha sculptures, Cave 3's thousand Northern Zhou mini-Buddhas lining up, and Cave 4's "Flying Apsaras with Floating Ribbons" like 3D art 11:30 Special Cave Highlight → Cave 133's Buddhist Story Stele 12:30 Continue to Cave 147 and the West Cliff Thousand-Buddha Corridor Special caves are absolutely worth it—buy tickets on-site at the entrance immediately (daily limit: 200). Don't wait!