Situated on the cliff face at the eastern foot of Mingsha Mountain, about 25 kilometers southeast of Dunhuang, Gansu Province, the Mogao Grottoes trace their origins to 366 CE and were continuously constructed over more than a millennium. Located at a crucial juncture of the Silk Road, the site served not only as a vital hub for East-West trade but also as a nexus where religions, cultures, and knowledge converged. The grottoes are celebrated worldwide for their magnificent painted clay sculptures and murals, presenting an unparalleled panorama of Buddhist art spanning a thousand years.

Recommended Itinerary

Exhibition Halls Overview

Digital Dunhuang Immersive Exhibition: The Mogao Grottoes Cave 285

The Mogao Grottoes Cave 285, celebrated for its unique historical value and precious artistic treasures, has been brought back to life through a 1:1 high-definition stereoscopic recreation in the "Seeking the Dunhuang Realm" exhibit. This creates an immersive, real-time interactive, and freely navigable environment for exploration and enjoyment. By donning VR gear at the Digital Dunhuang Immersive Hall, you'll be instantly transported into the world of the murals and a cross-dimensional marvel. Join the "Thunder God" and a host of other deities to strike up the celestial music and delve into the captivating allure of Dunhuang culture. Furthermore, you can also go online to the official "Digital Dunhuang" website (https://www.e-dunhuang.com/) to explore the mural stories in depth and freely access hundreds of knowledge points across the grottoes.

Dunhuang Grottoes Conservation and Research Display Center

The Dunhuang Grottoes Conservation and Research Display Center is a fully equipped, comprehensive facility dedicated to the conservation, research, and display of grotto relics. It features three distinct exhibition areas. The first area showcases eight full-scale replica caves, each representing a different era of construction, boasting rich features, excellent preservation, and exquisite murals and painted clay sculptures. In the second area, visitors can explore two thematic exhibitions: "Rereading Sealed Historical Memories," a report from the archaeological excavation site of the Mogao Grottoes North Area, and "The Journey," a major photographic exhibition narrating the stories behind the art of the Dunhuang Grottoes. The third area serves as a multipurpose space for flexible or rotating exhibitions.

Library Cave Exhibition Hall

The Library Cave Exhibition Hall is situated within the Sanqing Palace, at the northern end of the southern section of the Mogao Grottoes, directly across from Cave 17—the actual location of the Library Cave. Inside, visitors can trace the history of the cave's sealing, its discovery, and the subsequent dispersal of its priceless manuscripts and artifacts through historical photographs and high-quality replicas of the excavated relics, gaining an understanding of their immense historical and cultural value.

Admission Fees

Peak Season: ¥258 per person. This comprehensive fee covers admission to eight physical caves at the Mogao Grottoes (¥180), the digital film viewing (¥48), round-trip transportation to the grottoes (¥10), and the foreign language guiding service (¥20).

Low Season: ¥160 per person. This comprehensive fee covers admission to ten physical caves (¥90), the digital film viewing (¥40), round-trip transportation to the grottoes (¥10), and the foreign language guiding service (¥20).