Atlas of China
Mogao Caves 莫高窟Mògāo Kū
A thousand years of Buddhist murals in desert cliff caves on the Silk Road
- Best time
- May–Oct
- Time needed
- Half a day
- Days to budget
- Half a day
- Stay in
- Dunhuang
- Region
- Gansu
- Type
- Heritage
- Listed as
- National heritage site, UNESCO World Heritage
Why go to Mogao Caves
Cut into a cliff on the edge of the desert near Dunhuang, the Mogao Caves preserve nearly 500 painted caves made between the 4th and 14th centuries, their murals and clay sculptures tracing a millennium of Buddhist art and Silk Road life. Visits begin with films at the digital exhibition centre, followed by a guided tour of a rotating selection of caves.
The story
In 1900 a Taoist caretaker, Wang Yuanlu, broke into a sealed side chamber packed with tens of thousands of manuscripts. Among them was a copy of the Diamond Sutra dated 868, the world's oldest dated printed book, now held in the British Library.
What to see at Mogao Caves
- Digital Exhibition Centre 数字展示中心: Every visit starts here, with a digital film on the site's history and art that gives context before you enter the caves.
- Cave 96 – Nine-Storey Pavilion 第96窟九层楼: A nine-storey wooden façade shelters a seated Maitreya Buddha about 35 m tall, among the largest indoor Buddhist statues in the world.
- Cave 148 – Reclining Buddha 第148窟: A long Tang reclining Buddha in nirvana, watched over by rows of grieving disciples.
- Cave 257 – Nine-Coloured Deer 第257窟: Early Northern Wei murals tell the Jataka tale of the nine-coloured deer.
- Cave 61 – Wutai Shan map 第61窟: A vast mural map of the Buddhist pilgrimage mountain Wutai Shan covers the back wall.
- Library Cave (Cave 17) 藏经洞（第17窟）: The small chamber where tens of thousands of manuscripts were found in 1900 opens off the corridor of Cave 16.
How to visit Mogao Caves
Book a timed slot in your own name; foreign passport holders use the 'Ticket Booking' menu of the official WeChat service account (莫高窟参观预约网). Go first to the Digital Exhibition Centre in Dunhuang, arriving at least 30 minutes before your slot: the cave area has no ticket office or parking, and after the digital film a shuttle bus takes you to the cliff for a guided tour of eight caves chosen from a larger rotating list. The standard ticket (film plus eight caves) is the usual choice; a limited emergency ticket for four caves appears only in peak season, and special caves need a separate visit after a regular one. Allow the better part of a morning or afternoon.
How to get to Mogao Caves
Tours start at the Mogao Digital Exhibition Centre, about 15–20 minutes by taxi (longer by bus) from central Dunhuang; shuttles take you on to the caves.
Where to stay
Stay in Dunhuang city, which has the main rail station, airport and night market and is a short taxi ride from the Digital Exhibition Centre.
What to eat
- Donkey-meat yellow noodles 驴肉黄面: Dunhuang's signature hand-pulled yellow noodles topped with braised donkey meat.
- Apricot-skin drink 杏皮水: A tart, cooling drink made from dried apricot skins.
- Lamb skewers 烤羊肉串: Grilled lamb on skewers, sold at the Shazhou Night Market.
Tips for visiting Mogao Caves
- Book online well ahead with your passport, especially in summer; daily numbers are capped and tickets sell out.
- Choose an English-language tour slot specifically when you book.
- Photography is not allowed inside the caves.
Nearby
- Crescent Lake & Singing Sand Dunes 鸣沙山月牙泉 10 km
A crescent-shaped spring among towering dunes, right on the edge of town
Trips with Mogao Caves
- The Silk Road by train: Xi’an to Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi 11 days · Xi'an, Zhangye, Jiayuguan, Dunhuang, Turpan and Ürümqi
On the map
Open Mogao Caves on the illustrated map to see the terrain around it, what else is close, and to add it to a trip and plan the days.
Open Mogao Caves on the map