Mati Si (Horse Hoof Temple) Grottoes

Mati Si, the Horse Hoof Temple, is a Buddhist cave temple complex cut into cliffs in the Qilian foothills of Sunan Yugur Autonomous County, about 60-65 km south of Zhangye city in Gansu, China. The drive takes one to one and a half hours each way by taxi or chartered car, at about CNY 300-450 round trip, and a few seasonal buses run from Zhangye bus station in summer at about CNY 20-40. The temple is named for a hoof-shaped print said to have been left by a legendary heavenly horse, and the setting combines Tibetan-Buddhist atmosphere with views over grassland and mountains. The area has two separately ticketed sections, Mati Si and the Thousand Buddha Temple, each at about CNY 35-60, and visitors should confirm prices at the gate. Caves are linked by stairs and cliff paths, with chapels, statues and murals, and the climb between levels makes the visit more strenuous than at many temples. Local Yugur and Tibetan culture is part of the visit, and the surrounding valley is a pastoral landscape of herders and horses. A one-day plan leaves Zhangye in the morning, reaches the temple by mid-morning, spends two to three hours on the cave paths, eats lunch at the simple restaurants near the entrance, and returns in the afternoon, possibly stopping at nearby grassland viewpoints. May to September is the best window, with green pastures and open roads; winter brings snow and cold, and some facilities close. The altitude is moderate but cool air is common, so a light jacket helps. Visitors should dress modestly, walk quietly in the caves and follow any photography rules posted at each chapel. The trip pairs well with Zhangye Danxia National Geopark or Binggou Danxia on a second day, and a chartered car allows flexible stops.