Dunhuang Mogao Grottos

Situated at the key intersection of the ancient Silk Road, Dunhuang was a transit spot for the trade between the East and the West, where religion, culture and knowledge converged. Work on the Mogao Grottos, known locally as "Thousand Buddha Caves," began in 366 AD and the grottos became an important pilgrimage site for the next 1,000 years, spanning many Chinese dynasties. As a result, the 492 Mogao Grottoes of Dunhuang, rediscovered in the early 20th century, offer an unparalleled display of Buddhist art and a rich accumulation of artistry and religious devotion of over a thousand years. Lauded as the world's biggest, oldest and best-preserved Buddhist art treasure house, Dunhuang's Mogao Grottoes display an unusual combination of styles of central China and of Western regions in their architecture, sculpture, and painting. To honor its magnificent heritage, UNESCO added the Mogao Grottos to the UNESCO's World Heritage List in December 1987.