Mogao Caves

莫高窟 · Mògāo Kū

Hundreds of Buddhist cave temples painted over a thousand years, one of the world’s great art sites.

Booking requiredBring your passportHalf day (about 4 hours)

Tip

Your visit starts at the Digital Exhibition Center, not the caves. Arrive 30 minutes early with the passport you booked with. No photos inside the caves.

Opening hours: 1 Apr–30 Nov 08:00–18:00 (last ticket check 16:10); 1 Dec–31 Mar 09:00–17:00 (last check 15:10). Closes at short notice for heavy rain or sandstorms, with full refunds.
Price: Regular visit (films + 8 caves with a guide + shuttle) ¥238 in peak season, ¥140 in winter, when more caves are shown. Emergency visit (4 caves, no films) ¥100, only on peak days when regular tickets run out. Special caves cost extra. To be confirmed
How to book: Real-name advance booking only; do not count on buying at the site. Book on the WeChat service account or mini program “莫高窟参观预约网”: passport holders use the “Ticket Booking” entry and choose Passport as ID type. Daily caps: 6,000 regular visits, plus up to 12,000 emergency visits when that mode is on. Book the moment your date opens (widely reported as 30 days ahead), especially for July–October and Chinese holidays. Travel agencies book through mgk.org.cn. English-guided slots are limited. To be confirmed Could not get tickets? Tell us what you need
Getting there: Taxi or DiDi to the Mogao Digital Exhibition Center (莫高窟数字展示中心) east of town, about 15 min; the shuttle bus to the caves, about 15 km, is included
Address in Chinese: 甘肃省酒泉市敦煌市莫高窟（游览从莫高窟数字展示中心出发）

Photo: Zhangzhugang · CC BY-SA 4.0

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In the encyclopedia

Encyclopedia · Ideas and beliefsSilk Road 丝绸之路Hundreds of painted Buddhist caves created over a thousand years at a great Silk Road oasis.Encyclopedia · Ideas and beliefsBuddhism in China 中国佛教Hundreds of Buddhist cave temples painted over a thousand years at a Silk Road oasis.

Sources

Checked against these sources on 2026-09-27. Rules change often, so confirm on the official site before you go.

Not yet confirmed by an official source: Price, How to book

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