Exploring the Dunhuang Mogao Caves: A Silk Road Journey Through Ancient Art
Dunhuang Mogao Caves, or Mogao Grottoes, are located in the Dachuan River Valley, 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City, stretching about 1600 meters from north to south. The mysterious site along the China Silk Road tours are renowned worldwide for their exquisite murals and statues. Hailed as “the most valuable cultural discovery of the 20th century”, Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes has attracted a steady stream of visitors in their Gansu tours.
The construction of Dunhuang Mogao Caves began in the Former Qin period of the Sixteen Kingdoms. After years of development, they have formed a massive scale, with 735 existing caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and 2,415 colored clay statues. Integrating architecture, sculpture, and murals, the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang China represent the largest and best-preserved treasure trove of Buddhist art in the China Silk Road trips.
Mogao Grottoes Facts
- In Chinese: 莫高窟
- Type: World Cultural Heritage Site, Religious Sites, Caves
- Best Seasons: Summer/Autumn
- Recommended Visiting Time: about 4 hours
- Address: Mogao Town, Dunhuang 736200, China
- Opening Hours: 08:00 – 18:00 (4.1-11.30); 09:00 – 17:30 (12.1-3.31)
- Tickets: Peak Season (4.1-11.30): ￥238-￥50 / Off Season (12.1-3.31): ￥140-￥40
Mogao Caves History
The 1650-year-old Dunhuang Mogao Caves are known as one of China’s “Four Great Grottoes” along with the Maijishan Grottoes, Yungang Grottoes, and Longmen Grottoes. As a physical legacy of Dunhuang culture, the Mogao Caves are undoubtedly the most brilliant pearl in the crown and a must visit in the Dunhuang tours.
The first hammer sound of the Mogao Caves’ cliff carving and cave opening occurred in the second year of the Jianyuan era of the Former Qin (AD 366). The person who held the hammer and opened the mountain at the foot of Mingsha Mountain was a monk named Le Zun, who later became known as the “founder of the Mogao Caves.”
In the second year of the Jianyuan era of the Former Qin, there was a monk named Le Zun who often wandered and practiced in the wilderness with a Zen staff. One day, as he passed by Sanwei Mountain, he suddenly saw a dazzling golden light, as if thousands of Buddhas were emitting light. Thus he began to carve a cave here to enshrine Buddha statues. Later, another monk named Falang came from the east and passed by this place, and he set up camp next to the cave that Le Zun had carved.
The Buddhist culture of Dunhuang originated from these two monks. Since then, the carving and statue-making of the Mogao Caves flourished. Over a period of 1000 years during the 10 dynasties of Beiliang, Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, Western Xia, and Yuan, people densely carved various caves.
According to statistics, the venues for ancient monks and believers to worship Buddha were concentrated in the southern area. There are a total of 492 existing caves, more than 2000 statues, 45,000 square meters of murals, and 5 wooden structures. The northern area was the place for monks to practice, live, and pass away, with 243 cave sites.
The Fall of Mogao Grottoes
The Mogao Caves were once abandoned during the Ming Dynasty, but after the 54th year of the Kangxi reign in the Qing Dynasty (AD 1715), they attracted attention again. In the 26th year of the Guangxu reign (AD 1900), the Taoist priest Wang Yuanlu discovered the Mogao Grotto “Library Cave,” which contained over 40,000 items including manuscripts, documents, and cultural relics. Since then, the Mogao Caves have become even more prominent.
Between 1907 and 1924, significant cultural losses occurred at the Mogao Caves as various foreign explorers and scholars plundered over 15,000 manuscripts and relics. Notable incidents include Aurel Stein’s two visits in 1907 and 1914, Paul Pelliot’s selection of 5,000 pieces in 1908, Langdon Warner’s theft of 26 murals in 1924, etc. These actions have inflicted considerable damage on Dunhuang’s cultural heritage.
Mogao Grottoes Conservation
Since the 1940s, China has established academic research and conservation institutions for the Dunhuang Mogao Caves. In the 1960s, comprehensive reinforcement was carried out on the grottoes. Since 1980s, the Mogao Caves have entered the era of modern scientific conservation.
The Dunhuang Grottoes Cultural Relics Protection and Research Exhibition Center is the only institution in China dedicated to the protection, research, and exhibition of grotto cultural relics. The exhibition department of the center features a video playback hall and three exhibition areas, where the essence and developmental journey of Dunhuang grotto art are presented. This provides favorable conditions for people to gain a comprehensive understanding of the Dunhuang grottoes and Dunhuang Buddhist art.
The Art of Mogao Caves
The stylistic characteristics of different eras in the art of the Mogao Caves are also prominently reflected in the earlier constructed caves. The art of the Mogao Caves is a unity of architecture, sculpture, and murals. From the very beginning, the murals of the Mogao Caves primarily used a combination of traditional Chinese line drawing and shading techniques, which continued to evolve with the progress of time.
The Name of Mogao Caves
“Mogao” means a high place in the desert, and “Caves” refers to the place where monks retreat from the world to practice asceticism after renouncing worldly affairs. The carving of the Mogao Caves originated from the sincere devotion of Buddha’s disciples to their practice and their reverence for the divine.
Mogao Caves Murals
Upon entering the caves, visitors experience a variety of sensations. The simplicity and elegance of the Sixteen Kingdoms, the ethereal and refined beauty of the Northern Wei, and the rounded and luminous quality of the Northern Zhou. The graceful and meticulous artistry of the Sui Dynasty, and the resplendent splendor of the early Tang Dynasty… The continuously evolving and vibrant artistic vitality provides a beautiful enjoyment. The art of the Mogao Caves began to decline since later period of the Tang Dynasty, but Mogao Caves paintings and sculptures of each period still have distinct stylistic differences and continuous changes in content.
In the murals of the grottoes, Buddhist doctrines and stories are presented in an easily understandable comic strip format. They convey the Buddha’s teachings to the secular world, allowing even the illiterate to receive the universal benefits of Buddhist wisdom. These murals depict stories of the Buddha’s previous lives, the life of Sakyamuni Buddha, and sutra transformation paintings, many of which are widely circulated. These stories embody the concepts of compassion for all beings, renouncing evil and embracing goodness, and self-sacrifice for others.
Buddha in the Mogao Grottoes
In the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, visitors can see niches carved into the main walls, housing solemn and colorful statues of Buddhas and Bodhisattvas with expressions of peace, tranquility, and benevolence. In the early grottoes, side walls featured small meditation rooms where monks would sit in meditation. The main wall’s Buddha statues were available for worship and contemplation. It’s believed that when the mind achieves an extraordinary level of purity, focus, and devotion, monks can perceive the manifestation of the true Buddha through the statues.
Mogao Grotto Stpua Pillar
Stupas are revered Buddhist structures, either housing relics or serving as meditation sites. They are potent with Buddhist energy, drawing pilgrims from afar, like those visiting Nepal’s Boudhanath stupa. Devotees show reverence by walking clockwise around stupas. The Mogao Caves in Dunhuang feature central pillars resembling stupas, suggesting that worshippers may have circled these pillars within the caves, mirroring the practice at outdoor stupas.
What Caves to See in Mogao Grottoes
Cave 322 in the Mogao Grottoes
This cave was carved during the early Tang period (618—704). The statues and murals are original works from the early Tang. The murals are rich in color, with intense reds, and the content is diverse. Although the cave is not very large, its content is extremely rich, with exquisite and skillful painting techniques and vibrant, full colors, making it a fine example of early Tang grotto art.
Cave 328 in the Mogao Grottoes
Cave 328 of the Mogao Caves is a representative grotto from the early Tang period. Among the over two thousand colored statues preserved in the Mogao Caves, there are more than one hundred and forty original sculptures from various eras. The Tang Dynasty colored sculptures in Cave 328 reflect the prosperous and open atmosphere of the great Tang era.
Mogao Grotto Library Cave
Cave 17 of the Mogao Caves, known worldwide as the Dunhuang Library Cave, yielded over 50,000 artifacts including Tang Dynasty scriptures, embroideries, silk paintings, and ritual instruments. The discovery of the Library Cave artifacts has provided extremely valuable documentary materials for the study of Dunhuang.
Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes along the Silk Road
From the 2nd century BC to the 9th century AD, Dunhuang became the main overland route from the Central Plains to Eurasia. Historical records refer to Dunhuang as the “choke point” on the ancient Silk Road.
The Mogao Caves represent an extensive, inclusive, colorful, and uniquely characterized world cultural and artistic treasure trove. They play a significant role in preserving and promoting the excellent traditional Chinese culture. For everyone in the Dunhuang tours who wishes to delve deeper into the Chinese historical cultures during China Silk Road travel, the Mogao Caves are undoubtedly an ideal destination.
Mogao Caves Travel Tips
How to Book A Ticket to Mogao Caves
The Mogao Caves implement a real-name reservation and ticket verification admission system. When purchasing tickets and visiting, tourist must carry a valid personal identification document. Admission is only granted when the ticket, ID, and person match.
Ensure to arrive at the Mogao Caves Digital Display Center 30 minutes before your scheduled time. Book tickets in advance through the official Mogao Caves ticketing channels (the official Mogao Caves website and the official Mogao Caves WeChat mini-program).
Regular visitors and those eligible for ticket discounts must carry valid identification documents (original corresponding discount documents) to the manual ticket window to exchange for a paper Mogao Caves Ticket Information Sheet. Visitors with a full-price emergency ticket reservation should pass through the facial recognition ticket check at the entrance by swiping their second-generation ID card.
Personal Flashlight Is Not Allowed
To minimize impact on the murals, using personal flashlights and mobile phone lights to take pictures in the Mogao Grottoes is prohibited. Tour guides are equipped with specially designed cold light flashlights.
Keep An Eye on Phone Message after Reservation
Given the limited number of tickets, the site restricts the number of visitors. After payment, customer service will contact you to confirm details, so please ensure your phone line is clear. Upon successful reservation, a separate SMS for Mogao Caves entry will be sent to your mobile phone. You must arrive at the ticket office half an hour before your scheduled session to exchange your ticket; late arrivals will not be able to exchange tickets.
The opening of the Mogao Caves to the public is highly influenced by natural conditions. In the event of heavy rainfall, strong sandstorms, or other force majeure situations, the caves will be closed to visitors. Specific information will be announced by the site. In such cases, online ticket reservations can be fully refunded. And visitors with tickets can go to the ticket office for rescheduling or ticket refunds.
How to Get to Mogao Caves
Visitors to the Mogao Caves must first arrive at the Mogao Caves Digital Display Center, where the tour begins and ends. The Digital Display Center is located about 1 kilometer west of the Dunhuang Railway Station, accessible by a short walk.
From the city center of Dunhuang, you can take the special bus line from the railway station, which costs about 3 yuan per person, or take a taxi.
