A photo taken on Oct 18, 2024, shows a view of the North Matisi Grottoes in Sunan Yugur autonomous county of Zhangye, Northwest China's Gansu province. [Photo by Yang Xiaoyu/chinadaily.com.cn]

Located in the middle of the Hexi Corridor (part of the ancient Silk Road), Sunan is home to the Matisi Grottoes, which consists of some 70 caves that dot an area of about 100 square kilometers. Mati means "horse hoof" and si means "temple" as legend has it that a heavenly horse left a hoof print here when it flew down to seek water.