Thirty-three days grottoes are the essence of horseshoe temple. This is the first time I realized the hardships and ingenuity of digging grottoes on cliffs. Compared with the grottoes in Dunhuang, it may not be so beautiful here, but in the winding up and down, we can really appreciate the piety and persistence of craftsmen.
Most caves are narrow steps, and the steepest place is almost straight up and down. Some don't even have steps, only small holes cut in the wall can be used to catch things. In such an environment, it takes more hardships to dig holes to build Buddha statues and even worship Buddha.
The "Thirty-three Days" Cave, which began to enter the Thirty-three Days Cave, was dug on the red sandstone rock wall of Puguang Temple, 43 meters above the surface, with 21 holes in seven floors and a pagoda shape. Grottoes of this structure are unique and rare. The caves are arranged in five layers from bottom to top. There are five holes on the first, second and third floors, three holes on the fourth floor, one hole on the fifth floor and two holes on the upper left.
The caves are layered, and each layer is connected by a tunnel, which enters from the north of the first floor. The tunnel is zigzag and the corridor twists and turns. What exactly does "33 days" mean? In fact, "thirty-three days" is a free translation in Sanskrit, transliterated as "establishing heaven", a Buddhist term.
In the cloister of the thirty-three-day grottoes, looking out from the cave entrance, the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the Qilian Snow Mountain stands quietly. Only through it can people pierce the secret language of darkness, the sun and the moon and communicate with the spirit of nature. This holy land is the same height as the unity of man and god.
Traffic guide
Location of scenic spots: North Temple Grottoes of Horseshoe Temple, Sunanyuguzu Autonomous County, Zhangye City, Gansu Province
You can take the shuttle bus from Nanguan Station to Horseshoe Temple. The last bus from Horseshoe Temple to downtown is 17:00- 18:00. Or charter the whole journey, around 120 yuan.
Self-driving:
1. Depart from Zhangye City to Huancheng South Road.
2. Drive along Huancheng South Road for 597 meters to the West Ring Road.
3. Drive along the West Ring Road for 5 1.3 1 km to X208.
4. Drive along X208 for 6.14km to reach the destination, horseshoe temple scenic spot in southern Jiangsu.