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Mogao Caves, Dunhuang
莫高窟 · Dunhuang, Gansu, China
The 'Louvre of the East', carved over more than 1,600 years — a visual epic of Silk Road civilisations meeting.
Know before you go
- No photography or filming in the caves
- no loud noise, carving or graffiti at religious and heritage sites.
This article is Not yet verified. Please check official announcements for prices, opening hours and dates.
Stories & people
Stories & people
History
A wisp of smoke that led to the Library Cave
The Taoist priest Wang Yuanlu made himself caretaker of the Mogao Caves at the end of the 19th century. On 25 June 1900, following the drift of a wisp of incense smoke, he discovered a sealed cave behind the wall of a passage, piled with scrolls, paintings and textiles sealed away in the 11th century — the Library Cave. In 1907 the British explorer Aurel Stein came and, in exchange for a 'donation for repairs', took away a large number of scrolls and paintings; in 1908 the Frenchman Paul Pelliot removed thousands more. These artefacts remain scattered across museums around the world.
Source: Wikipedia: Mogao Caves
Culture
Culture & customs
Background
The Mogao Caves were begun in 366, the second year of the Former Qin's Jianyuan era, and built over nearly a thousand years from the Sixteen Kingdoms to the Yuan; 735 caves and 45,000 m² of murals survive. Flying apsaras, jataka tales and sutra illustrations record the blending of Buddhist art and many civilisations along the Silk Road, a pictorial treasury for studying ancient Chinese society. It became a World Heritage Site in 1987.
Local customs
- Dunhuang keeps folk traditions such as shehuo processions and quzi opera
- camel trains below the Singing Sand Dunes and the Shazhou night market carry on the street life of a Silk Road post. Locals are warm hosts, and donkey meat with yellow noodles, lamb vermicelli soup and apricot-peel drink are authentic tastes.
Religion & beliefs
- Mainly Buddhist: the caves were originally places of worship and practice. Keep silent and follow your guide
- photography and flash are strictly forbidden in the caves, and don't touch the murals or painted sculptures.
Etiquette
Etiquette & taboos
Rules that apply here
China: don't get physical in a dispute
- Walk away from an argument and call the police if needed
- Pushing, shoving or fighting
Whoever starts it, taking part in a fight can bring a fine or detention, and the injured party usually demands compensation.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
China: carry your original passport
- Foreign visitors should carry their original passport
- Carrying only a copy or photo of your passport
Police make random ID checks and do not accept printouts; if you cannot show your passport, you may be fined or detained.
Verified Oct 19, 2026Source: GOV.UK: China travel advice
Don’t DON'T
- No photography or filming in the caves
- no loud noise, carving or graffiti at religious and heritage sites.
Locals appreciate DO
- Locals love apricot-peel drink and donkey-meat noodles
- roast lamb and oleaster fruit are popular at the night market.
Plan your visit
Practical info
Travel tips
- In peak season (July–September) an emergency visiting system applies and you must book in advance on the official website
- see the Digital Exhibition Centre before entering the caves
- the caves are kept at constant temperature and humidity, so bring a light jacket
- combine with the Singing Sand Dunes and Crescent Lake (camel rides, sand sliding). Check tickets and opening hours on the official website.
Eat nearby
What to eat nearby
Must-try
- Donkey meat with yellow noodles
- Huyang menbing (lamb braised with flatbread)
- Apricot-peel drink (xingpi shui)
Donkey-meat yellow noodles (handmade yellow noodles with donkey-meat sauce), huyang menbing (mutton braised with flatbread), apricot-skin drink (sweet-sour drink of stewed dried apricots), Li Guang apricots / grapes around Mingsha Shan and Crescent Lake, mutton noodle soup
| Where to eat | Shazhou night market, restaurants in Dunhuang city, simple meals at the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Centre |
|---|---|
| Dining etiquette | Many restaurants in the north-west are halal — don't drink alcohol or bring non-halal food into them |
| Typical price per person | CNY 40–80 |
| Tips | There are no proper meals at the scenic sites, so eat in the city first; apricot-skin drink cools you down but is high in sugar; in summer bring water and sun protection. |
Prices are typical rates as of October 2026, not exact quotes; CNY equivalents are approximate where exchange rates fluctuate.
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N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
Photos
Photos
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N509FZ · CC BY-SA 4.0
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David Stanley from Nanaimo, Canada · CC BY 2.0
Unknown painter, Mid-Tang Dynasty, 618 to 907 AD · Public domain
Sources & verification notes
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