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Mogao Grottoes

The Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku) also known as the Thousand Buddha Caves, constitute one of the three major Buddhist grotto sites in China, and are situated 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang city on cliffs in the eastern Singing Sand Mountains. Beginning in the Han Dynasty, the caves have buddhist sculpture and frescoes from ten dynasties ending with the Tang. After the Tang Dynasty, the heyday of Dunhuang Mogao Buddhist art, the local economy around Dunhuang went into decline and production of Buddhist art lessened dramatically. Despite the ravages of time and of the winds and sand, 492 caves still exist. These caves contain thousands of square meters of frescoes, created with layers of cement and clay and then painted. The various dynasties each have different styles and themes, so there is great deal of variety in the content of the frescoes, although themes typically revolve around Buddha images. The Mogao Buddhist sculptures were generally constructed with terracotta and then covered with a carvable plaster surface that is painted after being carved. Cave number 17 is particularly famous for holding a hoard of buddhist scriptures and artwork.

Opposite the Mogao Grottoes at the foot of Sanwei Mountain, the Dunhuang Art Exhibition Center was built by the Dunhuang Art Study Institute with donations by Japanese contributors. There, you can find some replicated grottoes that have been made to recreate destroyed or damaged caves.

How to get there: The caves are 30 minutes by bus from Dunhuang (about 25km away). Minibuses leave from various hotels in Dunhuang (the Dunhuang Hotel or the Feitian Hotel at 8am) for a one way fare of RMB10. Hiring a minibus yourself for the trip about RMB80-100 for the roundtrip, depending on your bargaining skills. If you'd like to head out in the afternoon, plan on getting there around 2pm to 2:30pm. Before there aren't any guides available.
Opening hours: The caves are open from 8:30am to 5pm, but as your ticket requires a guide, it is best not to get to the caves between 10am to 2pm when guides are scarce.
Costs: Foreigners can only buy a RMB58 ticket that includes 58 of the best caves and this prices includes a English speaking guide whether you want one or not. This is for the best as they have the keys to the caves you'll be seeing. The tour is a full day activity with a long lunch break. If you arrive in the afternoon after 2:30, then you won't get the "full tour".

Note: It is best to bring a strong flashlight to enjoy the caves and frescoes. There are some low-powered flashlights available for rent outside the main gate, but you may be disappointed. Also, cameras are not allowed into the Grottoes and you will be asked to store your cameras and bags at the front gate for a small fee (RMB2).