China’s famous Mogao Caves, renowned for Buddhist murals and sculptures, are in Dunhuang. The cave complex lies near the ancient oasis town in present-day Gansu Province, at a historic crossroads of the Silk Road.
Monks, pilgrims, merchants, rulers, and local patrons supported the creation and expansion of the caves over many centuries. The earliest caves date to the fourth century, and work continued through several Chinese dynasties. Their walls preserve extensive Buddhist imagery as well as scenes of donors, musicians, architecture, and daily life.
The caves are especially valuable because they document cultural exchange across Central and East Asia. Artistic styles, costumes, musical instruments, and religious ideas reflect contacts carried by Silk Road travelers.
The Mogao Caves are sometimes called the Thousand Buddha Grottoes. They should not be confused with the Longmen Grottoes near Luoyang, another major Chinese Buddhist art site. The Dunhuang Academy now helps conserve and study the fragile paintings and sculptures.