Gansu

Zhangye, Gansu: Horse's Hoof Temple

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• published: 08 Feb 2015
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I was really lucky to be able to recover this footage - this is a place that foreigners rarely visit, so I REALLY wanted to show you! The Mati Temple Scenic Area, also named Horse's Hoof Temple, is a distinguished scenic spot integrating grottoes, the scenery of the Qilian Mountain, and Yugur local customs, lying in Sunan Yugur Autonomous County in Zhangye City. Legend about the Horse's Hoof Temple goes that a Chinese Pegasus landed here, leaving a huge horseshoe imprint that can still be seen within the Mati Hall in the temple. Thus the temple got the name “Horse's Hoof Temple”. Mati Temple boasts more than 70 caves and shrines. These grottoes are arranged in the form of a pagoda, with Buddhist halls inside and corridors outside. The total number of caves and shrines both inside and outside is up to 49, all of which are of unique designs. The surroundings of Mati Temple are very beautiful, and the verdant hills, green waters, unusual peaks and peculiar caves are the most famous things of Mati Temple. The Mati Temple Scenic Area consists of mountains, grasslands, pine forests, and a range of temples. Around the main temple there are winding passageways, caves, and well-organized stairwells. Besides, the Mati Temple Scenic Area is distinguished for the Yugur People, which is a unique minority group in Gansu Province, living at the foot of the snow-covered Qilian Mountain in the southern part of Zhangye for several generations. The Yugur people are fa¬mous for their folk songs, dances, tents, costumes, food and culture. Studies show that the Yugur people may be descendants of the Xiongnu people, an ancient nomadic people in China who roved about on the highland meadow at the foot of Qilian Mountain for good water resources and lush grassland. In the Mati Temple Scenic Area, tourists can enjoy the scenery of Qilian Mountain and the vast grassland. It is also possible to stay in a Yugu minority tent, where you can drink chang (Tibetan wine, made of barley) presented by Yugur girls, sample the traditional "hand eaten lamb", accept hada (a silk scarf used as a greeting gift), and appreciate folk songs to know more about nomads lifestyle. Horseriding can be tried, which makes you experience unique customs of the Yugur in Zhangye. "What To Do?" Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/letusshowyou Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/letchinasleep2 Twitter: @LetChinaSleep 我的微博：@懒惰老外 My old blog: http://www.austinguidryexperiencingchina.blogspot.com