The Maijishan Grottoes are a series of Buddhist cave temples located on the eastern edge of the Qingling Mountains in Tianshui, Gansu Province, China. Carved into the face of a cliff shaped like a wheat stack—hence the name "Maijishan," which translates to "Wheatstack Mountain"—the grottoes contain over 190 caves and more than 7,200 sculptures, as well as frescoes and inscriptions. The cave complex was primarily developed between the late 4th and 6th centuries during the Northern Wei, Western Wei, and Northern Zhou dynasties, with later additions and restorations occurring through the Sui, Tang, and Song dynasties.
The site is renowned for its well-preserved statuary, which reflects the evolution of Chinese Buddhist art, including influences from Central Asia and India, adapted into local artistic traditions. The sculptures range from small relief figures to large, life-sized or larger-than-life statues of the Buddha, bodhisattvas, and disciples.
Maijishan is one of the four major Buddhist grottoes in China, alongside the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi, and the Longmen Grottoes in Henan. The site is part of the UNESCO World Heritage tentative list and is protected as a national cultural relic site by the Chinese government.
Access to the grottoes is via steep wooden walkways and staircases built along the cliff face. Due to geological instability and environmental deterioration, conservation efforts have been ongoing, supported by both domestic and international organizations.