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The Shuilian Cave Grottoes are a cave-temple and monastery complex in Wushan County on the western side of Tianshui, recognized as a 4A-rated scenic area and the second most significant Buddhist cave site in the Tianshui region after Maijishan. The name "Shuilian" means "water curtain," referencing the seasonal waterfall that screens part of the cliff during the rains.

Founded during the Sixteen Kingdoms period under the Later Qin, the complex was expanded across the Northern Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, and Yuan dynasties. That unusually long sequence of patronage makes Shuilian Cave one of the most continuously used cave-temples in southern Gansu, and a useful complement to Maijishan for visitors tracing the wider Silk Road Buddhist landscape.

The site combines carved grottoes, cliff sculptures, wall paintings, and free-standing temple buildings set in a narrow, tree-lined valley. The best-known element is a massive relief Buddha with attendant bodhisattvas carved directly onto the cliff face, one of the largest such images in northwest China, together with smaller caves containing polychrome statuary and fragments of early mural painting. A network of shrines and pavilions spreads across the lower slopes, integrating natural features with religious architecture in a way typical of Chinese cave-temples.

For foreign travelers, Shuilian Cave is best visited as a focused day trip from Tianshui, often combined with other Wushan-area sites. The terrain is uneven in places, so sturdy footwear and a measured pace help. Spring and autumn offer the most comfortable temperatures and the clearest light on the painted reliefs. Allow enough time to appreciate the main cliff as well as the smaller caves, which often hold the most interesting detail work.