Wushan Shuilian Cave Grottoes Group||The world's first cliff carvings

||The world's first cliff carvings. The Wushan Shuilian Cave Grottoes Group is the second largest grotto group in Longnan region, only after Maijishan Grottoes. Shuilian Cave Grottoes Group is an open-air grotto temple that combines relief, cave niches, hanging sculptures, and murals, which is rare in the country. In 401 AD, the monk and translator Kumarajiva presided over the construction of the Brahman Palace monk's house in Shuilian Cave when he passed Wushan on his way from Kucha to Chang'an, which made the reputation of Lashao Temple far-reaching. Lashao Temple means 'the cave temple carved out of the cliff and piled with trees'. Highlight one: Lashao Temple Cliff Relief (559 AD) This is the largest cliff relief in the world. In the middle of the relief is Sakyamuni, and on both sides are the Bodhisattvas who hold lotus flowers and stand respectfully. In the middle of the upper part of the lotus seat, there is a shallow niche with a standing Buddha and two attendant Bodhisattvas, which was rebuilt in the Song Dynasty. Highlight two: Shuilian Cave Shuilian Cave is a natural arched cave. Every rainy season, spring water and rainwater gush out from the top of the cave, flowing like a curtain, hence the name Shuilian Cave. The cliff face of Shuilian Cave preserves Buddhist murals from the Northern Wei, Sui, Tang, and Yuan dynasties. Highlight three: Thousand Buddha Cave The Thousand Buddha Cave is 1 kilometer away from Lashao Temple. It is a natural rock cave. Because there are seven Buddha hanging sculptures on the cliff, it is commonly known as 'Seven Buddha Gully'. There are more than thirty cave niches in the Thousand Buddha Cave, with fewer Buddha niches in the upper part and statues carved on the lower cliff face. There are also murals, with a work on the south wall being the best. Location: Luban Gorge, Zhonglouwan Village, Yupan Township, Wushan County, Gansu Province Era: Built in the Later Qin of the Sixteen Kingdoms (384-417 AD) Ticket: 30 yuan, round trip six kilometers, sightseeing car 10 yuan