HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsBezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Xinjiang Uygur · China
At 8:30am, your guide will pick you up in the lobby of your centrally located hotel in Urumqi. Then, you will take a 3-hour ride in a private vehicle from Urumqi to Turpan. On the way, you will see windmill farms, saltwater lakes, and valley of Tianshan. After arriving in Turpan, visit Bezklik Thousand Buddha Caves, which is an abandoned site that has ruins of fresco and statues from 15th century.
Contents
8 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves
Welcome to the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, a profound archaeological testament to the spiritual and cultural synthesis of the ancient Silk Road. As we stand here in the Mutou Valley, look around at the landscape that…
Listen in the app2The Grotto of the Princes — Ethnic Synthesis
In this specific grotto, we encounter one of the most remarkable features of Bezeklik art: its depiction of ethnic diversity. Unlike many other Buddhist sites that focus purely on stylized religious figures, the murals here are…
Listen in the app3The Central Pillar Caves — Architectural Form
We are now entering a section of the caves known for the 'Central Pillar' architectural style. This design was specifically tailored for the ritual of circumambulation. …
Listen in the app4The Great Murals of the Uighur Period
This area contains some of the most significant murals from the 9th to 12th centuries, a time when the West Uighur Kingdom made Turpan its capital. The Uighurs were originally Manichaeans but converted to Buddhism, becoming some…
Listen in the app5The Monastic Cells and Living Quarters
As we move away from the main worship halls, we find smaller, more austere caves. These were the living quarters and meditation cells for the monks who resided at Bezeklik. …
Listen in the app6The Southern Terrace and Exterior Vistas
Coming out onto the southern terrace, you are rewarded with a panoramic view of the Mutou Valley and the sheer cliffs that house the grottos. From this vantage point, you can appreciate the scale of the complex. …
Listen in the app7The Conservation Gallery
Our final stop within the complex is a section dedicated to the modern efforts to preserve what remains. Conservation in this environment is a Herculean task. …
Listen in the app8Closing
As we conclude our walk through the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, take one last look back at the cliffs of the Mutou Valley. This site stands as a profound monument to human endurance and the universal search for meaning. …
Listen in the app
What is Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves?
Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves is a place in Xinjiang Uygur · China with 8 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | Xinjiang Uygur · China |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 8 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 42.9569, 89.5418 |
| Last updated |
