What is the meaning of the flying fairy murals in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang? Why have the murals in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang not faded for thousands of years?

Mogao Grottoes is an art palace that combines ancient architecture, sculptures and murals, and is especially famous for its colorful murals. Do you know what the murals of flying fairies in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang mean? Why have the murals in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang not faded for thousands of years? Let's learn more about how long in advance to make an appointment at the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

Contents of this article

1. What is the meaning of the flying fairy murals in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang?

2. Why the murals in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang have not faded for thousands of years

3. How long in advance should I make an appointment to visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang?

What is the meaning of the flying fairy murals in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang

Before Buddhism was introduced to ancient times, Taoists worshipped nature and seldom destroyed mountains or split rocks in order to carve images. In China, flying celestials were mostly painted on tomb murals, symbolizing that the soul of the tomb owner could ascend to heaven.

During the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, when Buddhism was first introduced, the flying fairies in the murals were also called flying gods, and there was no distinction between flying fairies and flying gods. Later, as Buddhism developed in China, the flying fairies of Buddhism and Taoism merged with each other in artistic images. The Dunhuang flying fairies refer to the flying gods painted in the Dunhuang Grottoes, which later became a special term for the Dunhuang mural art in China.

Why the murals in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang have not faded for thousands of years

1. The colors of murals were painted with mineral pigments in the earliest period, so they do not change color after thousands of years.

2. The colors of the murals we see have already changed. Non-mineral pigments oxidize and change after coming into contact with carbon dioxide and water vapor.

3. Dunhuang is located in a dry desert area with little water, so the colors of the murals are well preserved.

The falling and discoloration of the murals is an irreversible fact, and the protection work done by the Dunhuang Research Institute is only to slow down the falling and discoloration of the murals. The prohibition of taking photos and the restriction of the number of people entering the caves are all for the purpose of protecting the murals and preserving them for a longer time.

How long in advance should I make an appointment to visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang?

To visit the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, you must make a reservation 30 days in advance.

Reservation process:

1. After entering the reservation website, click on individual traveler reservation.

2. Register as a member, verify your real name, and log in to the reservation platform to make a reservation.

3. After the reservation is successful, you will receive a text message on the reserved mobile phone.

Notes for reservation:

1. Each account can only reserve up to 5 tickets for the same order, and the second reservation cannot be made before the ticket is picked up for the visit.

2. When making an appointment, you need to fill in the identity information of the visitor and the ticket collector and pay all fees.