# Matisi Grottoes, China: what it is and when to go > Matisi Grottoes is an archaeological site (马蹄寺石窟群) in China. Interests: Temples. The best time to visit is March to May and September to October. In June there are 14 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 20. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Here is what it is, where it lies, when to come, how to get there and what else is nearby to turn it into a trip. - Address: https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/horse-hoof-temple/ - Reviewed on: 2026-10-08 - Language: en ## In a nutshell - **What it is:** Archaeological site · Temples - **Local name:** 马蹄寺石窟群 - **Where:** China - **Best time:** March to May and September to October. - **Nearest airport:** XIY Xi'an, 872 km as the crow flies - **Coordinates:** 38.48415, 100.41735 ## What it is and where Matisi Grottoes is an archaeological site (马蹄寺石窟群) in China. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. Its coordinates are 38.48415, 100.41735; the nearest main airport is Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY, Xi'an), 872 km as the crow flies. How to get around China (train, car, bus) is covered in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#moverse). - [Where it is](https://www.google.com/maps/search/?api=1&query=38.48415%2C100.417351) - [Directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=38.48415%2C100.417351) It is one of the [Temples](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/espiritual/) places in China. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) it is already on your trip map next to the places you save yourself, and it goes into a day's plan with one tap. ## When to go The best time to visit Matisi Grottoes is **March to May and September to October**. | Mes | Época | Hours of daylight | | --- | --- | --- | | January | Possible | 9 h 36 | | February | Possible | 10 h 33 | | March | Best time | 11 h 42 | | April | Best time | 13 h 01 | | May | Best time | 14 h 05 | | June | Possible | 14 h 40 | | July | Possible | 14 h 26 | | August | Possible | 13 h 30 | | September | Best time | 12 h 14 | | October | Best time | 10 h 58 | | November | Possible | 9 h 52 | | December | Possible | 9 h 20 | In June there are 14 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 20. Daylight hours are calculated from the site's latitude for the 15th of each month; when planning a full day on foot they matter as much as the weather. When to go to China in general, with its festivals and peak seasons, is in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#cuando-ir). ## Before you go to China To enter China there are 9 things to sort out before you leave, starting with “Passport valid for six months”: they are all, with their deadlines, in [the China checklist](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#antes-de-salir). Currency: Yuan or renminbi (CNY); plugs: Type A, C and I · 220 V · 50 Hz (you need an adapter); emergencies: 110 police · 120 ambulance · 119 fire brigade. In [Kokai](https://kokai.app/en/) you tick off the checklist inside your trip, and each item reminds you when it is time to do it. ## What is nearby - [Yuantong Temple Pagoda](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/yuantong-pagoda/): Tower · 32 km - [Zhou'er Mountain Scenic Area](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/zhou-er-mountain-scenic-area/): Protected area · 36 km - [Dafo Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/reclined-buddah-temple/): Building in Zhangye, China · 50 km - [Zhangye National Geopark](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/zhangye-colorful-danxia-scenic-spot/): National geopark in China · 60 km - [Ebao Ruins](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/ebao-ruins/): History · 73 km Distances are as the crow flies. Everything else is in [the China guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/). ## More in China: Temples - [Shaolin Monastery](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/shaolin/): Chan Buddhist temple in Dengfeng county, Henan, China - [Great Mosque of Xi'an](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/gran-mezquita-xi-an/): mosque in China - [Jokhang](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/templo-de-jokhang/): Buddhist temple in Barkhor Square in Lhasa - [Niujie Mosque](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/niujie-mosque/): mosque in Beijing - [Id Kah Mosque](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/id-kah-mosque/): mosque in Kashgar, Xinjiang, China - [Hanging Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/templos-colgantes/): temple built into a cliff in Shanxi province, China Every China place under Temples, each with its season, is on [its page](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/espiritual/). ## Frequently asked questions ### What is Matisi Grottoes? It is an archaeological site (马蹄寺石窟群 in the local language) in China. It has articles in 3 Wikipedias, so it is not one of the busiest places in China: one to enjoy at a calmer pace. ### When is the best time to visit Matisi Grottoes? March to May and September to October. In June there are 14 h 40 of daylight, and in December, 9 h 20. ### How do you get to Matisi Grottoes? The nearest main airport is Xi'an Xianyang International Airport (XIY), 872 km as the crow flies. From there, [directions](https://www.google.com/maps/dir/?api=1&destination=38.48415%2C100.417351) opens the route on the map, and how to get around China is explained in [its country guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/#moverse). ### How do I add it to my trip? With one tap. In Kokai it is already on the China map, next to the places you save yourself: add it to a day's plan, give it a time and, if you like, get a reminder when you pass nearby. ### What else is around here? Nearby you have [Yuantong Temple Pagoda](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/yuantong-pagoda/), [Zhou'er Mountain Scenic Area](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/zhou-er-mountain-scenic-area/), [Dafo Temple](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/reclined-buddah-temple/). The rest is in [the China guide](https://kokai.app/en/paises/asia/china/). Data from [OpenStreetMap](https://www.openstreetmap.org/node/3323564394), licensed under the ODbL, and from [Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1495655), CC0. More about Matisi Grottoes on [Wikipedia](https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matisi-Grotten). Daylight hours are calculated from the latitude. More in [credits](https://kokai.app/en/aviso/#creditos).