Kucha Murals at Markor Caves, Beijing

I spent more than an hour wandering around Markor Caves. The building has a unique appearance and is 6 stories high with a display area of 23,000 square meters. The interior is like an art gallery, showcasing the inheritance and innovation of human beings from cave shelters to modern home art. The tour gives people a magical experience of traveling through ancient culture and facing modern life scenes. The Kucha murals at the entrance are very special. The creation of the Kucha murals was inspired by the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves in Aksu, Xinjiang. The artist used the ancient method of making murals, mixing Xinjiang wool and wheat straw into the materials, giving them a textured feel. Natural pigments were used, making the paintings colorful and full of the ancient atmosphere of the Western Regions, as well as Buddhist scriptures and details of people's daily lives. The paintings extend from the ground to the ceiling, making you feel like you are in a grotto. The most unique feature is the skylight design on the roof, with the blue sky above and the sunlight shining directly in, giving a sense of height and agility. The skylight is surrounded by rock cliffs, giving a sense of time and space. The spiral staircase, five huge beams, and walls in the museum are also decorated with Kucha mural elements. Markor Caves is another popular photo spot in Beijing, where many young people take photos and photographers can take beautiful pictures. There is a bookstore, restaurant, and home retail store in the museum. It is open every day from 10:00 to 21:00, and admission is free except for special exhibitions. There are not many people on weekdays. It is located at No. 99 Chaowai Street, near Dongyue Temple.