The botanical gardens at the base of Maijishan make a pleasant complement to the grottoes above. The walk through the gardens to the cliff face takes about twenty minutes, and the forest itself — a mix of oaks, maples, firs, and various broadleaf species — is attractive enough to justify unhurried walking. In autumn, the maples turn the hillsides red and orange in a display that draws visitors who have no particular interest in Buddhist art.
The gardens are included in the main site ticket and are usually far less crowded than the grottoes walkways above. A stream runs through the lower section and there are benches along the path. The combination of ancient art and accessible forest scenery is one of the things that distinguishes Maijishan from the other great Chinese Buddhist cave sites, most of which are set in drier, more exposed landscapes.