What are the characteristics of the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang? Which city is the Mogao Grottoes a tourist attraction in?

Mogao Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan, and Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi are known as the three major grottoes in China. Later, Maijishan Grottoes were added to the four major grottoes. On August 31, 2019, the large-scale documentary "Dialogue between Mogao Grottoes and Angkor Wat" jointly produced by the Dunhuang Academy and other units premiered at the Dunhuang International Convention and Exhibition Center. It is very suitable for family travel. So what are the characteristics of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes? Which honest attraction is Mogao Grottoes? Let's take a look at the introduction of Encyclopedia Knowledge Network!

Contents of this article

1. What are the characteristics of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes?

2. Which honest tourist attraction is Mogao Grottoes?

3. The description of flying apsaras in the Mogao Grottoes murals

4. Can I buy tickets on site at Mogao Grottoes?

What are the characteristics of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes?

With a long historical span and strong continuity, the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang were first built during the reign of Emperor Xuanzhao of the Former Qin Dynasty, Fu Jian, and have been built in successive dynasties, including the Northern Dynasties, Sui Dynasty, Tang Dynasty, Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms, Western Xia Dynasty, and Yuan Dynasty. With a large scale and rich content, the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang have 735 caves, 45,000 square meters of murals, and 2,415 clay sculptures. It is the largest and most content-rich Buddhist art site in the world.

With distinct characteristics of the times and regions, the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang embody the common features of the popular art styles of the Central Plains dynasties and local governments in various historical periods. They also reflect the powerful integration ability of Sino-Western exchanges on the Silk Road and the local culture of Dunhuang.

The artistic expressions are various, and the Mogao Grottoes art integrates architecture, colored sculptures and murals.

Which honest tourist attraction is Mogao Grottoes?

Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is located in Dunhuang City, Gansu Province. It is the general name of Mogao Grottoes and Western Thousand Buddha Caves in the territory. Tourist attractions include Crescent Lake in Mingsha Mountain, Yangguan, Yadan landform, Mogao Grottoes, Devil City, Poplar Forest, etc. Mogao Grottoes is located 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang City and is carved on the cliff at the eastern foot of Mingsha Mountain.

There are four major grottoes in my country, namely the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi, the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan, the Maijishan Grottoes in Tianshui, Gansu and the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang.

The reasons why the reputation of Mogao Grottoes far exceeds that of other grottoes are: first, the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang were excavated at an earlier time; second, it is large in scale; and third, the sculptures and murals are very exquisite.

Dunhuang is located on the Silk Road, which was an important transportation route from ancient China to the Western Regions, Central Asia and Europe, and once had prosperous commercial activities.

Description of flying apsaras in Mogao Grottoes murals

Describe the flying figures in the Mogao Grottoes murals: Some stretch out their arms to welcome guests. Some stroke the strings of a musical instrument and sing softly. Some take big steps with a firm gaze. Some look melancholy and cry alone. Some run to the horizon with their long hair fluttering. Some land lightly on earth and dance alone.

Describing the flying figures in the Mogao Grottoes murals: The most eye-catching are the flying figures in the hundreds of murals. Some of them carry flower baskets and pick flowers. Some hold pipa and gently pluck the silver strings. Some hang upside down and descend from the sky. Some carry flower baskets and spread happy flowers to the world.

Dunhuang Flying Apsaras is the business card of Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes and the symbol of Dunhuang art.

Can I buy tickets on site at Mogao Grottoes?

You can usually buy tickets on site for the Mogao Grottoes. When visiting the Mogao Grottoes, in addition to buying tickets on site, you can also buy tickets directly on the official website, or choose to buy tickets through official accounts, mini programs, ticket sales points in the city, and other channels. If you are visiting during the peak tourist season, it is recommended to buy tickets online to avoid queuing.

Mogao Grottoes tickets are divided into two types: Class A and Class B. Different tickets can visit different attractions. About 6,000 Class A tickets are sold every day, and about 12,000 Class B tickets are sold every day.

Purchase a Class A ticket and enter the scenic area to watch the theme digital movies "Millennium Mogao" and "Dream Buddha Palace" in turn. After watching the movies, you can visit the 8 open caves of Mogao Grottoes with professional tour guides.

Purchase a Class B ticket and take the shuttle bus to and from Mogao Grottoes directly at the entrance of the scenic area. There are recorded broadcasts in the caves, and you can visit the 4 open caves of Mogao Grottoes.