Tianshui

West of the border with Shaanxi, it is the first significant Silk Road city. Tianshui is just the nearest town to the Maijishan Grottoes, which house amazingly well-preserved Buddhist sculptures in over 200 cliff caves that date back more than 1500 years. It also offers convenient access to several other sights of interest, most notably the Immortals’ Cliff Area and the Stone Gate Mountains. The town is an ideal stop for those traveling along the southern route of the Silk Road.

Highlights:

Maijishan Grottoes - one of the four largest grottoes in China, catwalks and steep spiral stairs have been built across the cliff face to get access to the caves half way up in the sky.
Fuxi Temple - a Ming-dynasty temple in memory of Fuxi, one of the legendary ancestors of the Chinese people.
Immortals' Cliffs - surrounded by forested ridges and cultivated fields, some Buddhist and Daoist temples are dotted in the valley; it is perfect for hiking around.