National park · China
Maijishan National Park马积山国家公园
Buy a ticket at the Maijishan Tourist Service Center, take the shuttle to the cliff base, then walk the grottoes; budget ¥30–¥50 entry, use bus from Tianshui, and visit in spring or autumn to avoid heat.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²)
approximate
Established
1996
Best months
Mar–May, Sep–Oct
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7
- East Asia ↗Every border in East Asia is a full international border, Hong Kong and Macau included: an entry permission for one never covers the next.
- East Asia ↗Ferries between Korea, Japan and China cancel in rough seas and typhoons; keep a flight or a spare day behind every sea leg.
- China ↗Most nationalities need a visa, a unilateral visa-free entry (the list and end dates change) or the transit exemption below. Confirm your route on the official sites before you buy a ticket.
- China ↗Transit stay without a visa: up to 240 hours (10 days) for citizens of about 55 listed countries who pass through China to a third country or region, with a confirmed onward ticket and a stay inside the permitted area (Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei count as one area). It replaced the 144-hour rule in December 2024, which some older pages still quote. Use the transit lane at immigration, show the onward ticket, and check the current nationality list. Hong Kong and Macau count as separate regions; check whether your ticket qualifies.
- China ↗Foreign visitors must register their address with the police within 24 hours; hotels do it at check-in with your passport. Carry the original passport at all times: hotels, trains, museums, Tiananmen Square and police checks ask for it.
- China ↗Set up Alipay or WeChat Pay with a foreign card before you fly. QR payment is the default in shops, taxis and many stalls, and some places refuse cash or a foreign card. Carry cash as a backup.
- China ↗Google, WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and many news sites are blocked. Use an eSIM with roaming (it routes through your home network) or install and test a VPN before you fly; VPN sites and app stores are hard to reach inside China, and only government-approved VPNs are officially permitted.
At a glance
- Country
- China
- Area
- 120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²)
- Park covers the cliffside grotto area and surrounding forest; approx. 120 km² (official figure not published).
- Established
- 1996
- Best months
- Mar–May, Sep–Oct
- Permits
- For some areas
Maijishan National Park protects a cliff‑side complex of 194 Buddhist grottoes with thousands of clay figurines and murals, plus surrounding forest and botanical gardens.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1996.
Size and age
120 km² (46 sq mi)46 sq mi (120 km²) · national park since 1996
Park covers the cliffside grotto area and surrounding forest; approx. 120 km² (official figure not published).
Why go
- Explore the 194 cliffside cave shrines with thousands of clay figurines and murals.
- See the massive Buddhas carved into the mountain face.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayBest
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepBest
- OctBest
- NovGo
- DecGo
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Local bird speciesMar–Oct | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Tianshui South station
Bus 5 or 60, ¥7 (≈ under US$1), about 1 h, last return 16:40.Bus 5 or 60, ¥7 (≈ under US$1), about 1 h, last return 4:40 PM.
1–1.5 h
From Tianshui railway station
Bus 34, ¥5 (≈ under US$1), about 1 h.
1 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Maijishan Tourist Service Center | Ticket sales, information desk, shuttle dispatch. | Open daily; shuttle to park entrance (1.5 km (0.9 mi)).Open daily; shuttle to park entrance (0.9 mi (1.5 km)). |
| Grotto entrance | Base of cliff, start of walkway network. | Shuttle drop‑off; foot access only. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates from Wikidata; service centre location from source; approximate for orientation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry (ticket at Tourist Service Center) | CNY 30–50 (≈ US$5–7) | person | — |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Tickets
- Must be purchased at service centre before entering.
- Shuttle
- Only authorised shuttle may drop you at cliff base.
- Camping
- Not allowed inside park; stay in Tianshui or nearby villages.
Where to stay
Near the park
Tianshui city
Hotels, hostels and guesthouses 20 km (12 mi) from park.Hotels, hostels and guesthouses 12 mi (20 km) from park.
Safety
Steep stairs medium
Lost on network high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Shuttle drop‑off reachable by car; entrance area level ground.
- Walkways include many stairs; not wheelchair accessible.
Visiting lightly
- Stay on marked paths to protect fragile murals.
- Do not litter; carry out all waste.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Maijishan National Park?
Tickets are bought at the Maijishan Tourist Service Center; typical price is ¥30–¥50 per person (check for current rates).
What are the best hikes in Maijishan National Park?
The main trail walks the 194 cliffside grottoes; it takes 2–3 hours and is moderate difficulty. The short walk to the colossal Buddhas is easy.
When is the best time to visit Maijishan National Park?
Spring (Mar–May) and autumn (Sep–Oct) offer mild weather and fewer crowds; summer can be hot and rainy.
How do I get to the park from Tianshui?
Take bus 5, 34 or 60 from Tianshui South station (≈¥5–¥7, 1 h); then a shuttle to the cliff base.
Is camping allowed inside Maijishan National Park?
No, camping is prohibited; stay in Tianshui or nearby villages.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about Maijishan National Park
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