Early in the morning visiting Dunhuang, GansuMingsha Mountain.Crescent SpringLater, although I felt that my stay in Crescent Spring was a bit short, the purpose of shortening the time was to visit the oldest and largest Buddhist art center in China-Mogao Grottoes.If Crescent Spring is a naturally formed supernatural work, then Mogao Grottoes are crafted by man-made craftsmanship. Both are extremely precious and both face the risk of extinction, whether it is from external man-made or natural threats.
Basic introduction to Mogao Grottoes
The Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu, Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi, Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan, and Dazu Rock Carvings in Chongqing in China are the four grottoes listed on the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage List. Mogao Grottoes are particularly famous.Since ancient times, Dunhuang has been an important town on the Silk Road, as well as the starting point and art center for the east spread of Buddhism. Mogao Grottoes, Yulin Grottoes, West Thousand Buddhas Caves, East Thousand Buddhas Caves, and Five Temple Grottoes together form the Dunhuang Grottoes. , And Mogao Grottoes is the most famous among them, listed as a World Cultural Heritage in 1987.
Mogao Grottoes began in the first year of Taihe in the Eastern Jin Dynasty (AD 366). At present, there are 487 caves in the Southern District 248 and North District 735 from the Northern Wei Dynasty to the Yuan Dynasty. The southern part is a place for religious activities for monks, and the northern part is for monks. The place of practice, residence, and burial of bones, the northern and southern districts are roughly separated by Tibetan scripture caves.The well-known mural statues of Mogao Grottoes are located in 487 caves including Cave 5 in the South District and Cave 492 in the North District.
Extended reading.Introduction to Mogao Grottoes:Wikipedia.Baidu Encyclopedia.Interactive Encyclopedia
※ data source:Dunhuang Grottoes Conservation Research Foundation
Ticket reservation and visit process of Mogao Grottoes
It is extremely difficult to preserve the murals of Mogao Grottoes. Considering that the murals will be affected by the carbon dioxide exhaled by humans, the Mogao Grottoes has adopted an appointment system and the maximum number of visitors per day is 6,000. At the same time, it accepts reservations from travel agencies and individual tourists. You can make an appointment. Make an appointment on the website.The entrance ticket for the peak season is 200 yuan, and the contents of the visit include: Mogao Grottoes Digital Center, Mogao Grottoes tour ticket, shuttle bus and professional explanation fee.
The general visit process of Mogao Grottoes is usually to first go to the Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center to pick up tickets and enter. After watching the two introduction videos, then take a shuttle bus to Mogao Grottoes, at the entrance of the physical cave next to the small archway , There will be professional guides distributing portable headsets, 25 people as a group, guided by the guides to visit the three caves, as well as the three-story building, the nine-story building and the exhibition hall of the Buddhist scriptures, after the visit, take the exit in front of the nine-story building After coming out, you can visit the exhibition center, the history exhibition hall and other places in the park at will, and finally you can take the shuttle bus back to the digital exhibition center.
※ data source:Mogao Grottoes Visit Reservation Official Website
▲ Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center.
▲ The ticket office of the Digital Exhibition Center is actually the place to pick up the tickets. If you don't make a reservation in advance, you can't buy tickets on the spot!
▲ The lobby of the Digital Exhibition Center of Mogao Grottoes.
▲ There are two theaters in the Digital Exhibition Center, each of which plays two introduction short films. The production is quite exquisite. Of course, some people will fall asleep. ^^
▲ After watching the two videos, then take the shuttle bus to Mogao Grottoes!
▲ Along the way by the shuttle bus, you can see many grottoes of the Dunhuang Grottoes group.
Mogao Grottoes.Buddhist scripture cave
When visiting the physical caves of Mogao Grottoes, enter from the entrance next to the small archway. As the guide enters the tour, the main area to visit is the caves in the southern district.First of all, the guide will lead a team to visit the three-story building and the Tibetan scripture cave. In front of the third floor is the Tibetan scripture cave exhibition hall. It introduces the origin of the Tibetan scripture cave and major events over the years, mainly the discovery of the Tibetan scripture cave and the division of foreign powers. Holocaust, and display some of the scriptures and paintings in the Buddhist scripture cave.
▲ The small archway of Mogao Grottoes, on the right is the entrance to the Mogao Grottoes.
▲ At the entrance of the visit, professional guides will distribute portable wireless earphones.
▲ The three-story building of Cave No. 16 contains a Buddhist scripture cave with the passage to the north of Cave No. 17.
Going north from the three-story building is Cave 248 in the North District.
▲ Exhibition Hall of Tibetan Scripture Cave.
▲ The billboard in the exhibition hall narrates the development history of Mogao Grottoes and the catastrophes experienced over the years.
Guided tour and explanation of Mogao Grottoes
The professional interpreters of the physical caves led a group of 25 people to visit the three classic caves. Each interpreter will carry a large set of keys, which is the key to open the door of each cave. According to Wendy’s observation, each interpreter will They will choose different caves, so the three caves visited by each team are completely different. They are also based on the consideration of reducing the concentration of carbon dioxide in the cave.
▲ The nine-story building number 96 contains the largest Buddha in Mogao Grottoes that is 35.5 meters high.
▲ The billboards show the changes in the murals in the cave. It is clear that the murals are gradually fading, which is really not easy to preserve!
▲ The nine-story building contains the largest Buddha of Mogao Grottoes.
▲ In front of the nine-story building is the visitor exit.
▲ After the professional explanation is over, everyone can go outside the exit and visit the free exhibition halls everywhere.
▲ In front is the big archway of Mogao Grottoes.
▲ The large archway, next to the exhibition hall, sells many postcards, books, paintings and other souvenirs.
Mogao Grottoes Exhibition Center
In the final stage of visiting the Mogao Grottoes, everyone can come to the Dunhuang Grottoes Exhibition Center, which contains a one-to-one replica of the Mogao Grottoes, and introduces the sculpture methods of various statues and other introduction data.
▲ Introduce how to make statues in the grotto.
After visiting the exhibition center, you can take the shuttle bus on your way home!
Conclusion: Buddhist Art Center and Cultural Heritage on the Silk Road
Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes is the cultural heritage of all mankind, especially for Buddhism. It is a cultural treasure. Unfortunately, whether it is mural paintings, clay sculptures or scriptures, they are all cultural heritages that are not easy to preserve. Like Angkor Wat in Cambodia, which is dominated by stones, there are restrictions on the number of people and no taking photos in the cave. Although it is still occasional that some people do not follow the rules, in fact, you can check various official websites and books, and the exquisite pictures circulated Quite a lot, so you don't need to use your own small camera. It's true that you have a lot of experience on the spot.
It is said that in the millennium of human history, no matter how careful care is taken for a hundred years, it will never be defeated by a devastating turmoil and plunder, just like the destruction of historical relics by the Islamic State in the Middle East, the greatest enemy of human cultural heritage, It's human beings!
◎ Dunhuang.Mogao Grottoes
– Address: Dunhuang City, Gansu Province, People's Republic of China
– Phone: +86 937 886 9060
– Opening hours:
．旺季(5月1日至10月31日)：08:00 – 18:00
．淡季(11月1日至4月30日)：09:00 – 17:30
-Ticket cost:
.The Mogao Grottoes visit ticket is 200 yuan/person·time in peak season, and the foreign language ticket is 220 yuan each (including 20 yuan foreign language explanation fee)
.Mogao Grottoes admission ticket is 100 yuan per person per time in off-season, and foreign language tickets are 120 yuan each (including 20 yuan foreign language explanation fee)
.Digital Exhibition Center visit ticket 60 yuan/person·time
– Ticket reservation: http://www.mgk.org.cn/
– Official website: http://www.mogaoku.net/
◎ This article is about participating in the "Dunhuang Tour."Silk Journey" invited to write articles◎
