Mogao Caves
China ·
Description
Carved into a cliff near the Silk Road oasis of Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves hold 492 grottoes decorated with 45,000 m² of wall paintings and 2,400 painted sculptures. Pilgrims and wealthy merchants commissioned the artwork between the 4th and 14th centuries. In 1900 a walled-up library cave was discovered containing 50,000 manuscripts, the most important Silk Road archive ever found.
Why It's a World Heritage Site
UNESCO recognized the Mogao Caves as an outstanding example of Buddhist art at a key crossroads of Silk Road civilizations, preserving masterpieces of painting and sculpture over a millennium.
UNESCO Criteria
Frequently Asked Questions
8-10 caves per standard ticket, chosen by the guide from those not under conservation.
No. Photography inside the caves is strictly forbidden to protect the pigments.
Direct flights from Xi’an, Lanzhou and Beijing, or by train via the Lanxin high-speed line.
Yes, the immersive dome film shows caves you cannot physically enter and is included in the ticket.
May, June, September and October. July-August is very hot and crowded.