Sculpture of the Son of the Earth
The sculpture of the Son of the Earth is a work by the Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University. It is said that in the future, these sculptures will be built along the highways in Guazhou, becoming a popular attraction that is 15 meters long, 4.3 meters high, and 9 meters wide. The sculpture is primarily made of red sandstone, using 3D scanning methods to obtain model data, then carved in sections using 3D engraving, and finally assembled piece by piece into a large outdoor themed sculpture.
Guazhou Highway
Guazhou Road basically has very few vehicles passing by, so you can stop and take photos at any time. The scenery is beautiful and safe, much better than the continuous traffic flow seen on the Sichuan-Tibet Highway before. As long as we find a good spot, the driver will stop. The driver is quite accommodating and doesn't get tired of taking pictures for us.
Yulin Grottoes are very similar to the Mogao Grottoes in terms of cave form, content, and artistic style, hence they are also known as the sister caves of Mogao Grottoes. Although there are no written records of the formation period of Yulin Grottoes, it is inferred from the cave forms and related inscriptions that they began before the Sui and Tang dynasties. Based on the existing mural styles and the inscriptions of the painters, it is evident that the grottoes were excavated and painted with statues on a large scale during the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Western Xia, Yuan, and Qing dynasties.
An important commercial town on the ancient Silk Road, where Xue Rengui faced difficulties during his western expedition. It is the historical site of the 'Empty City Stratagem', the place where Xuanzang preached, and the best-preserved Tang Dynasty military defense system in China, including the beacon fire communication system—Suoyang City.
When mentioning Ta'er Monastery, people immediately think of the Ta'er Monastery in the suburbs of Xining, Qinghai. However, there is also a Ta'er Monastery in Guazhou, located in the Hexi Corridor. Originally called Ayuwang Monastery, it is situated on the ruins of Suoyang City. Its name was passed down by local shepherds. Although it is now in ruins with yellow sand everywhere, it still brings to life a legendary segment of 'Journey to the West'.
