Mati Temple Grotto is a Hidden Gem

#chinatravel Mati Temple Grotto in Zhangye was such an unexpected highlight. It's carved right into the side of a mountain, like literally, temples and caves stacked into the cliff, and it looks so cool in person. I didn’t even know places like this existed outside of photos. You can climb up into the caves and check out ancient Buddhist statues, murals, and these tiny little rooms that monks used to live in. It’s a mix of peaceful, mysterious, and totally awe inspiring. The views from up there? Unreal. The whole area around the grotto is super quiet and scenic too, green valleys, horses grazing, and fresh mountain air that just makes you feel super relaxed. Not a ton of tourists either, which made it even better. If you’re in Gansu or visiting Zhangye Danxia nearby, Mati Temple is so worth the detour. It’s spiritual, beautiful, and just a really cool place to explore and slow down. Big yes from me.