Atlas of China
Kumtura Caves 库木吐喇千佛洞Kùmùtǔlǎ Qiānfódòng
National heritage site · Aksu, Xinjiang
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- City
- Aksu
- Region
- Xinjiang
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- National heritage site
About Kumtura Caves
Kumtura is the second-largest cave group of ancient Kucha after Kizil: 112 caves cut between the 5th and 11th centuries along about 3 km of cliffs above the Weigan (Muzat) River. Its murals run from early Kuchean work through Tang Chinese to later Uyghur styles, some with inscriptions in Chinese and Old Uyghur, and the southern group holds a rare surviving clay Buddha.
How to get to Kumtura Caves
About 25 km by road west of Kuqa beside the Weigan River; the caves have mainly been opened for arranged specialist visits rather than general tourism, so check access before going.
Nearby
Also within 20 km: Wushitu'er and Xiahetu'er Ruins 乌什吐尔和夏合吐尔遗址 (under 10 km), Desert Flower Sea, Xinhe 沙漠花海 (10 km), Jiayi Village 加依村 (20 km), Kizil Caves 克孜尔千佛洞 (20 km), Kuqa Palace 库车王府 (20 km), Tang Anxi Protectorate Culture Park, Xinhe 唐安西都护府文化园 (20 km).
On the map
Open Kumtura Caves on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it and what else is close, and to add it to a trip.
Open Kumtura Caves on the map