Mogao Caves, Buddhist cave complex in Dunhuang, China

The Mogao Caves consist of several hundred Buddhist grottoes carved into a sandstone cliff that runs for around 1.7 kilometers (1 mile). Inside are painted sculptures and wall paintings representing different styles and periods.

Monks began digging the first caves in the 4th century and added new chambers over more than a millennium. Work ceased in the 14th century when the Silk Road shifted its trade and the region lost importance.

The name Mogao was used in the Tang dynasty for an administrative district at the site and may mean "peerless" (none higher) or, reading mo as a variant for desert, "high in the desert". The caves are commonly called the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas, a name linked to the founding legend of the monk Yuezun's vision of a thousand Buddhas in golden light in 366, or to the many Buddha figures painted on the walls.

A visit requires a reservation because only a limited number of visitors are admitted each day. The tour lasts several hours and comfortable shoes are recommended as you walk over uneven paths and stairs.

One of the chambers held thousands of manuscripts, textiles, and paintings that remained hidden for centuries. This collection offers insights into religious life, trade, and languages along the Silk Road up to the 11th century.