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| Attraction Location : Dunhuang |
| Attraction Affiliated with the City :Dunhuang |
| Attraction Rate : AAAAA |
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Introduction
Why the Mogao Caves are special
The man made Mogao Caves contain over 40,000 colorful wall art. If laid side by side, they would extend 30 kilometers (20 miles). The Mogao Caves also contain thousands of painted statues and scholarly scrolls.
Interesting insights about the Mogao Caves
The wall paintings have retained much of their bright hues because of the dry desert climate.
The Mogao cave art (mainly Buddha related) first appeared in the 4th century and continued, with some interruptions, over the next
thousand years.
Although most of the artwork and scrolls relate with Buddha, some encompass other religious and philosophical persuasions including Confucianism and Taoism.
For a long period, many of the Mogao Caves were sealed and forgotten. And, few people beyond the locals knew of the existence of the accessible caves - that is until about one hundred years ago when Western World museums and art dealers became aware of the artistic treasures. Soon, they and their Chinese agents began exporting many of the irreplaceable scrolls to the West. Fortunately, nearly all the wall drawings and painted statues were left behind.
Interesting insights about the Mogao Caves
The caves are on the fabled Silk Road trade route that once commercially linked China and Europe.
The Mogao Caves are also known as the "Mogao Grottoes," "Dunhaung Caves" and the "Caves of a Thousand Buddhas".
Tip for your vacation tour or trip
Only several dozen of the 492 existing Mogao Caves are open to the general public (for preservation purposes). However, most of the allowed caves are remarkable, especially Cave 96. This multi-stored cavern houses a stunning 33 meter (110 foot) high statue of Buddha.
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