CIIC:Today's featured article/May 18, 2016

From Wiki China org cn
Mogao Caves (Gansu Province,1987, World Cultral Herritage)

Standing 25 km southeast of Dunhuang, the Mogao Grottoes(莫高窟) have experienced the Northern Wei, Western Wei, Northern Zhou, Sui, Tang, Song, Western Xia, Yuan, Ming and Qing dynasties.

The rows of caves on Mingsha Hill spread across 1,600 m and divide into the south and north areas. Distributed across the cliff face like a honeycomb, the caves are 15 to 30 m above the ground. The caves in the south area are the more significant, as they contain a large amount of statues and frescos from several dynasties. The caves in the north area were predominantly places for meditation and living quarters for the monks. (More...)