Mogao Buddha Grottoes near Oasis Town Dunhuang, Gansu Province, China

The Mogao Caves (or Mogao Grottoes and Dunhuang Caves) are also referred to as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas which form a system of 492 temples. The caves are located about 25km southeast of Dunhuang, an oasis town at a strategic point along the Silk Road at the crossroads of religious and cultural influences as well as trade. Construction of these Buddhist caves began in 366 and are famous for their old Buddhist art such as statues and wall paintings.

The Mogao Caves are the most famous of China's three ancient sculptural sites, the other two being the Longmen Grottoes (Henan Province) and Yungang Grottoes (Shanxi Province). The Mogao Caves have been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1987.

Taking pictures inside the caves is strictly prohibited; in fact you will have to deposit your camera before you will be allowed to enter any of the grottoes. This is the reason why we can only show you pictures taken from the outside.

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