Mural in Mogao Cave 329 at Dunhuang — Unknown artistPublic domain · Wikimedia Commons

HERITAGE RECORD · 440

Mogao Caves

莫高窟

The official record, selection criteria and sourced cultural context.

World Heritage record

Situated at a strategic point along the Silk Route, at the crossroads of trade as well as religious, cultural and intellectual influences, the 492 cells and cave sanctuaries in Mogao are famous for their statues and wall paintings, spanning 1,000 years of Buddhist art.

Open the official UNESCO record ↗

Wikidata reference

QIDQ43286 ↗

Administrative areaQ1201947 · Q319114

WikipediaMogao Caves ↗

Chinese Wikipedia莫高窟 ↗

Imported locally from Wikidata; it does not replace the UNESCO record or editorial copy.

Selection criteria

This property was inscribed under the following World Heritage Convention criteria.

(i)A masterpiece of human creative genius.

(ii)An important interchange of human values in architecture, technology, arts, town planning or landscape design.

(iii)A unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition or civilisation.

(iv)An outstanding example of a building, ensemble or landscape illustrating a significant stage in human history.

Cultural archive

Related poem

Please drink one more cup of wine; west of Yang Pass, no old friend awaits.

王维 Wang Wei · 《送元二使安西》 / A Song at WeichengOriginal: 劝君更尽一杯酒，西出阳关无故人。Original work in the public domainSource ↗

Atlas note

The Mogao Caves hold desert-crossing faith in the colours of their chambers.

项目编辑总结，依据 UNESCO 档案与相关资料。Atlas editorial contentSource ↗

Record lead

UNESCO record lead

Brief synthesis Carved into the cliffs above the Dachuan River, the Mogao Caves south-east of the Dunhuang oasis, Gansu Province, comprise the largest, most richly endowed, and longest used treasure house of Buddhist art in the world.

Source-led archive lead · 86%Source ↗

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