This could be the eighth wonder of the World!

Absolutely amazing!  How did they build and carve on a mountain face ? 

Maytszishan Caves — China

Buddhist complex Maytszishan little known. It is located in Gansu Province in northwest China. This is a striking architectural complex, carved out of the rock. Maytszishan has 7,000 Buddhist sculptures and nearly 1,000 square meters of murals. 11 more images ...

Maytszishan is just a few miles south of the Great Silk Road. Many of the monks chose to stay in these caves and work there.

One of the earliest written records about this are found in the biographies of the two monks Tanhonga and Huanggang, who meditated there with his disciples.

 

The Maytszishan Caves (麦积山石窟) are a complex of Buddhist cave temples located in Tianshui, Gansu Province, China. The caves are carved into the cliffs of Maytszishan Mountain, and they date back to the Western Wei dynasty (386-551 AD). The caves are home to a large number of Buddhist sculptures and murals, and they are considered to be some of the most important examples of Buddhist art in China.  

The Maytszishan Caves are divided into two main groups: the East Group and the West Group. The East Group is the larger of the two groups, and it contains over 7,000 sculptures and nearly 1,000 square meters of murals. The West Group is smaller, but it contains some of the most important sculptures in the complex.

The sculptures in the Maytszishan Caves are made from a variety of materials, including stone, wood, and clay. They are often painted in bright colors, and they depict a variety of Buddhist figures and scenes. The murals in the caves are also painted in bright colors, and they depict scenes from the life of Buddha, as well as stories from Buddhist mythology.

The Maytszishan Caves were first discovered in the early 17th century, and they have been attracting visitors ever since. The caves are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and they are considered to be one of the most important cultural and religious sites in China. 

 

Here are some of the most important features of the Maytszishan Caves:

• The Cave of the Thousand Buddhas (千佛洞): This cave contains over 1,000 sculptures of Buddha, making it one of the largest collections of Buddhist sculptures in China.
• The Cave of the Reclining Buddha (涅槃洞): This cave contains a large sculpture of the reclining Buddha, which is one of the most famous sculptures in the Maytszishan Caves.
• • The Cave of the Medicine Buddha (药师洞): This cave contains a sculpture of the Medicine Buddha, which is believed to have healing powers.
    Opens in a new windowen.wikipedia.org

    Cave of the Medicine Buddha — China
  • The Cave of the Amitabha Buddha (阿弥陀洞): This cave contains a sculpture of the Amitabha Buddha, which is believed to be the Buddha of the Western Paradise.
    Opens in a new windowwww.khanacademy.org

    Cave of the Amitabha Buddha — China
  • The Cave of the Ten Kings of Hell (地狱洞): This cave contains sculptures of the Ten Kings of Hell, who are believed to judge the souls of the dead.
    Opens in a new windowwww.metmuseum.org

    Cave of the Ten Kings of Hell — China

  The Maytszishan Caves are a remarkable example of Buddhist art and architecture. They are a valuable source of information about the history and development of Buddhism in China, and they are a must-see for any visitor to the country

 

Huge Buddha is almost parallel to the side of the mountain - the highest is more than 16 meters in height. Stairs that lead up and around the caves were originally made of wood, but later have been fitted with metal supports, for security purposes.