Mogao Caves

The Mogao cave complex lies in west China, an extensive accomplishment. Next to the caves a museum was built to showcase 6 fake caves - built to scale and with strict attention to detail. Many caves are shut to preserve them and only about 100 are open to the public, a group of 14-20 are open at any one time on rotation. Some are closed due to high carbon monoxide levels, the air-oxygen actually ruining the centuries old paint by turning it black. Beautiful murals and an interesting story about a group of "white" Russians that were help captive in one famous cave.