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Mogao Caves (World Wonder)

The Mogao Caves located in Dunhuang, a prominent town on the Silk Road, are recognized as the "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas" for their rich and splendid Buddhist murals and sculptures. The Mogao Caves were first built by traveling monks during the Sixteen Kingdoms Period, then flourished with the support of the ruling class which embraced Buddhism fervently. During the Sui and Tang dynasties, Dunhuang became both a commercial hub on the Silk Road and a religious center of pilgrimage thanks to its many Buddhist grottoes and shrines. The construction of caves ceased during the Yuan Dynasty. During the Qing Dynasty, the discovery of a secret lair full of scriptures and paintings from various dynasties (the "Library Cave") attracted the attention of foreign explorers and antiquities traders - accompanied by the losses and destruction of valuable cultural artifacts. In modern times, researchers have dedicated their efforts to the preservation and restoration of the Mogao Caves, and by exploring the art and scriptures of the various dynasties, one could glimpse the cultural, religious, and economic landscape of China across the ages.


Supports English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese and Japanese.

Credits
Special thanks to IthildinX for importing the model.