Mati Temple
马蹄寺 · Mǎtí Sì
Buddhist grottoes and chapels carved into a red sandstone cliff in the foothills of the Qilian Mountains, linked by narrow inner stairways.
No booking neededBring your passportHalf day including the drive
Tip
The cave stairways are steep and dark: wear good shoes, and skip them if you dislike tight spaces. At about 2,500 m it is cooler than town.
- Opening hours
- Apr–Oct about 08:00–18:00, Nov–Mar about 08:30–17:30 To be confirmed
- Price
- About ¥74; some sections may charge separately To be confirmed
- How to book
- Buy at the gate or on Trip.com with your passport.
- Getting there
- About 65 km south of Zhangye, 1–1.5 hours by car; car with driver is easiest
- Address in Chinese
- 甘肃省张掖市肃南裕固族自治县马蹄藏族乡马蹄寺景区
Photo: NoGhost · CC BY-SA 4.0
From other travelers
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Checked against these sources on 2026-09-27. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.
Not yet confirmed by an official source: Opening hours, Price
More in Zhangye
张掖七彩丹霞Zhangye Rainbow Mountains (Qicai Danxia)Hills striped red, orange, yellow and green by layered sandstone, seen from boardwalks and viewing platforms.冰沟丹霞Binggou DanxiaThe quieter Danxia area north of Qicai: sculpted cliffs, towers and canyons in paler colours, walked on long boardwalks.张掖大佛寺Giant Buddha TempleAn 11th-century wooden hall in the town centre holding a 35-metre reclining Buddha, one of the largest indoor Buddhas in China.平山湖大峡谷Pingshanhu Grand CanyonDeep red and orange canyons in the desert hills north of town, with viewing platforms on the rim and a walk down into the gorge.