Magao Grottes: immersed Buddism

We kicked off our Dunhuang trip right after arriving from Zhangye. As we got closer, the scenery started changing — endless stretches of desert on both sides of the road. By the way, sunset here is pretty late, around 8:30 PM, so you’ve got more daylight to explore! Dunhuang itself is a pretty compact area (around 3 x 4 km), and local taxi drivers are super helpful — they know all the key spots and can easily get you to hotels or attractions. 🎨 Must-visit: Mogao Grottoes (莫高窟) This place is seriously impressive! It’s one of the top historical sites in China and totally worth the 258 RMB entry fee. We joined a guided tour (available in English and other languages), and our guide, Ning Jie, took us through 8 fascinating caves. The caves are packed with Buddhist art and history going back over 1,400 years (yep, all the way to the Xia Dynasty!). Dunhuang used to be a major stop on the Ancient Silk Road, connecting China with Central Asia and beyond. So you’ll see cultural influences from all over. Inside, you'll find: • Giant Buddha statues • Murals with apsaras (those floating celestial musicians) • Beautiful ceiling patterns • And famous paintings like the Nine-Colored Deer, which symbolizes unity in diversity 🦌✨ The biggest Buddha we saw was a 35-meter tall seated statue—it’s the third largest in the world! And in another cave, there’s a serene reclining Buddha, representing his journey into Nirvana. The colors inside are stunning — turquoise, warm reds, creamy whites. Many of the paintings were done or restored during the Western Xia and Tang Dynasties. Everywhere you look, there’s something awe-inspiring. 🕯️ The tour lasted about two hours and was an amazing deep dive into Buddhist history, art, and how ideas traveled along the Silk Road from India to China. Tip: if you are foreigners, buy the foreign ticket which couldn’t reserve online by yourself. Each round start on every xx.30 like go to counter at 10.30 to get the 11.30 round. Then, go to the entrance around 11.00 for watching 3D film beginning at 11.30. There are the waiting area nearby the souvenir shop.