9-hour hiking in Zhangye and the Horse Hoof Temple Grottoes

Mati Si (Horse’s Hoof Temple) is a group of Buddha grottoes located in the Linsong Mountain in the Gansu Province. Thousands of grottoes are grouped together in seven clusters, and each group of grottoes is no more than a mile or so from another. Human-made tunnels link the various grottoes.The history of Mati Si is so ancient that it is shrouded in mystery and legends. Legend has it that Long Ma (a winged horse with dragon scales in Chinese mythology) descended from the heavens and left a hoof print on the place where the temple was established.

Pingshanhu Grand Canyon in Zhangye, one of the world’s five canyons, is equally famous as the Giant Canyon of the Colorado and the Great Rift Valley of the East African. Going through all wind, rain and the miracle of nature, there are deep canyon and distinct peak forest in Zhangye Pingshanhu Grand Canyon. The nature conveys the colorful mountains into incomparable and breathtaking pictures with its extraordinary creations. Zhangye Pingshanhu Grand Canyon Scenic Spot is located at 50km to the north of the Zhangye city, with the north-south width of 26km and east-west length of 40km. It has a total area of 150 sq km. The varied geomorphologic figuration is mixed with the characteristics of “Devil City” in Dunhuang and "Old Castle City" in Rome. The whole scenic spot consists of nine dragons converging in the sea, valley wonders, couple peaks, blue sky, lucky sacred tree, golden toad confronting the sky, stone forest and other natural and human landscapes. The boundless landscape formed after millions of years and the mazy of canyon embody the charm and vigor particular to the West China.

Located in the middle of Hexi Corridor, Zhangye City dominates one area and five counties: Ganzhou Area, Linze, Gaotai, Shandan, Minle and Su’nan counties. It’s an excellent tourism city of China and national historical and cultural city now. Zhangye was called as Ganzhou in ancient time. Zhangye is long in history, splendid in culture, beautiful in landscape and honest in social mood. There is the wetland park nearest to city—Zhangye National Wetland Park; the biggest indoor wood stuffed and clay sculptured lying Buddha of the world, rare treasure – Zhangye Golden Sutra, treasure of cave art – grotto group in Mati Temple of Su’nan, Jinta Temple and Manjushree Temple, the most beautiful colorful Danxia of China, the best preserved and ancient capital of Northern Liang of China – ancient ruins of Camel City, and the largest royal stud farm of the world – Shandan Horse Farm.