The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, are located on the cliff at the eastern foot of Mingsha Mountain, 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. This scenic spot is the world's largest and richest Buddhist art site, with 735 caves and 4 murals50,000 square meters, as well as 2,415 clay colored sculptures.
The history of the Mogao Grottoes can be traced back to 366 A.D. and was founded by the monk Lezun. In the following 1,000 years, this scenic spot has experienced the construction of the Sixteen Kingdoms, the Northern Wei Dynasty, the Western Wei Dynasty, the Northern Zhou Dynasty, the Sui Dynasty, the Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties, the Song Dynasty, the Western Xia Dynasty, the Yuan Dynasty and other dynasties, forming a huge scale. Among them, the southern area is the place of Buddha worship activities in Mogao Grottoes, with 492 caves and 4 murals50,000 square meters, more than 2,400 colored sculptures. The northern area, on the other hand, is home to monks and craftsmen, and has facilities for spiritual and living purposes, but there are no sculptures or murals.
In addition, the Mogao Grottoes are also an important witness to the dialogue and exchanges between different civilizations along the ancient Silk Road. In 1900, the discovery of the cave unearthed more than 50,000 pieces of cultural relics such as scriptures, documents, embroidery, silk paintings, and ritual utensils from the 5th to the early 11th century, providing valuable information for the study of ancient culture and history.
Famous for its statues and murals, these artworks not only showcase Buddhist art that has lasted for thousands of years, but are also a splendid treasure trove of art in ancient Chinese civilization. Visitors can enjoy the large-scale and rich grotto and mural art, and at the same time, they can also learn about the development history of Buddhism in Dunhuang for thousands of years through explanations and film displays.
In 1961, Mogao Grottoes was announced by the People's Republic of China as one of the first batch of national key cultural relics protection units. In 1987, the Mogao Grottoes were listed as a World Heritage Site, further proving their importance in world culture and history.
In general, the Mogao Grottoes Scenic Area is a tourist attraction integrating history, culture and art, whether it is for the study of ancient history and culture, or for appreciating Buddhist art and natural scenery, it is a rare good place. Attractions: