The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang

Mogao Caves

The magnificent Mogao caves at Dunhuang county, in the north of Gansu district, are situated at a strategic point along the ancient Silk Road, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences.

Construction of the Buddhist cave shrines began in 366 AD as places to store scriptures and art.

The 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art, and this wonderful scenic spot is part of the Unesco World Heritage List.

Dun Huang is the name of the nearby city. It is located between Urumqi and Yumen.

It was an oasis irrigated by the Tang River and began to serve as an important way station on the Silk Road, the main trade route between China and Central Asia since the first century B.C.

Along with the grottoes at Longmen and the grottoes at Yungang, Mogao is one of the most famous ancient sculptural sites of China.

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