Xumishan Grottoes Hillside Trail

The Xumishan Grottoes Hillside Trail is located in the Xumishan Grottoes Scenic Area, about 55 km northwest of Yuanzhou District, Guyuan, and reached by taxi or tour bus. From the entrance, a route of about 3-4 km connects the site's eight scattered grotto clusters across the hillside, with the trail open daily from 08:00 to 18:00. The path consists mainly of stone steps and dirt trail between clusters, sitting at roughly 1,700-1,850 m altitude, with moderate up-and-down walking rather than a single sustained climb; no technical difficulty or exposure is involved, though the repeated ascents and descents between clusters add up over the full route. Shade varies by section, with some clusters set into wooded hillside and others more open to the sun. The main landmark and highlight of the route is the 20.6 m Tang-dynasty Maitreya Buddha carved into the hillside at one of the central grotto clusters, which serves as a natural highlight partway through the walk; visitors short on time can treat this as a turn-around point before continuing to the remaining clusters. No water sources or shelter exist between clusters, and facilities are limited to the main entrance area, so visitors should carry water for the full circuit between all eight clusters.