Mogao Caves

The Mogao Caves or Mogao Grottoes are a system of 492 temples located near Dunhuang in Gansu province. Along with Longmen and Yungang, they are the three mos famous ancient sculptural sites of China. The paintings on the walls were a form of meditation for the Buddhist monks, representations of their quest to enlightenment and a way to transmit their stories and beliefs to those who were illiterate. This caves became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.