Mogao means “High Up in the Desert” - & the Cave Openings in Mogao Grottoes are stacked 5 Storeys High, with some reaching up to 50 meters!!

Mogao Crottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves, or Caves of The Thousand Buddhas) was built when a Monk, named Le Zun, witnessed onsite a Vision of Thousand Buddhas under Showers of Golden Rays - Le Zun believed this was a Sacred Place for Buddhists, so he collected money from all around & cut the first Grotto!!

This news spread fast & passing-by Merchants & Travellers through Dunhuang, which is a Desert Oasis strategically located at religious & cultural crossroads on the Silk Road of China in Gansu, all donated money for the Grottoes’ Construction, in hope of a Safe Journey……………..

Soon, many Buddhist Monks collected Scriptures from the West while many Pilgrims passing through Dunhuang painted Buddha Murals inside the Caves of Mogao Grottoes!!

The Cave Murals (or Paintings) & architecture served as aids to the Buddhist mediation, as visual representations of the Quest for Enlightenment - as mnemonic devices, & as teaching tools to inform illiterate Chinese about Buddhist beliefs & stories………….

Below pics show the dried-up Dang River from where the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) set into a Cliff on its North River Bank here at Dunhuang along the Silk Road of China :

Now, we’re still a short distance away from this Bridge over Dang River to the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) :

Here’re my Brother-in-law Ah Hia & Me standing infront of the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) :

And here’s a pic of our Silk Road Tour Group holding a Green Banner that reads “Warming Welcome China Express Travel (S) Pte Ltd” outside the Mogao Grottoes :

Below is my Mogao Grottoes Addmission Ticket in the form of a Buddha Mural Painting found inside one of the 735 caves (in the Mogao Grottoes) where we’ll be visiting real soon :

WHOA was I taken aback & amazed at how beautifully painted the Buddha Murals & Sculptures are inside the many Caves of the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves), with some of the Paintings in 3D forms too!!

In fact, some of the earlier Paintings are of Indian Buddhist Art since Buddhist Art has its origins in India, while more recent Artworks depict all walks of life & activities in a local Chinese setting……………..

There’re 16 Caverns over 800 square meters of Murals, & more than 2000 painted Clay Statues among the 735 Caves. Some of the Caverns were made in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), & others in the Wei Dynasty (386-534). However some have collasped & only 10 of the 16 Caverns are open to Tourists today!

And cos photography was not allowed during my visit into the Mogao Grottoes, I’ve hereby included some pics of beautiful Buddha Murals & Sculptures (some of which are already old & blurred) that I found on the Internet :

Whew Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) are the most fascinating Caves I’ve seen in all my Travelling thus far!! It’s indeed a most important “MUST-See” place for everyone visiting Dunhuang!!

This above locally handmade Embroidered Dunhuang Kitchen Apron is similar to the one I’ve got last night from Dunhuang Night Market (or “Shazhou Market“), but this one’s got a pic of a Camel on it which I simply adore since I’ve really fallen in love with Camels from my Camel Riding at Mingsha Shan (Echoing-Sand Mountain) earlier today!!

Best of all, I found the most amazing Mogao Grottoes Poker Playing Cards - in the form of 54 different Murals & Sculptures (found inside the Caves) on 54 different Cards in the Set :

I’m now visiting the following Dunhuang Mogao Ku Cultural Relics & Art Gallery to get more insights into the Mogao Grottoes, as well as enjoy some cool Aircon away from the heat in walking up & down during my earlier visit to the Caves :

Now, let me show you 2 Portraits of my Silk Road Tour Group taken here at the Mogao Grottoes (Thousand Buddha Caves) by a local Chinese Photographer :

Well, this above 1st Portrait does look exactly the same as featured earlier (taken with my own Camera) - but I usually purchase whatever pics were taken of Me during Travelling especially in China out of pityness for the local Chinese who are usually pretty poor people………….

There’s actually a real huge air-conditioned Souvenirs Shop behind these above Shops where I was trying to look for a Chinese designed Shirt for my Dad - but none too handsome enough that caught my eyes!!

Anyway, I’m now looking at the Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves) from the Carpark where our Dunhuang local Coach is parked, infront of the dried-up Dang River :

Here’s Me standing infront of the Mogao Grottoes (Thousand Buddha Caves) across the dried-up Dang River - behind the lovely Desert plants :

It’s such a gorgeous view from where I’m standing here that I can’t stop snaping pics…………….

A last pic of Me standing in the Carpark of the Mogao Grottoes (Thousand Buddha Caves) with a gorgeous backdrop of stunning Desert Mountains before we leave this most beautiful place here in Dunhuang…………..

What a truely amazing experience I just had in visiting the magnificent Mogao Grottoes (Mogao Ku or Thousand Buddha Caves)!! Remember you must all come here when you visit Dunhuang here in the Silk Road of China!!