The    1     of Mogao Grottoes on the Silk Road was not only a transfer station of east-west trade but also an inter-section (交汇点) where oriental and western religions, cultures and knowledge met. Mogao Grottoes, also known as “Thousand Buddha Grottoes”, were first built in 366 A.D., the second year of the Jianyuan Period of the Former Qin of the Sixteen Kingdoms, or 1,656 years ago. The grottoes were    2     built for around 1,000 years across 11 dynasties or periods. Spanning a distance of 1,600-plus meters, the grottoes     3     736 caves.

Mogao Grottoes are among the Four Greatest Grottoes of China     4     the largest and best-preserved treasure house of Buddhist culture and arts in the world. Due to its brilliance in ancient culture, Mogao Grottoes were     5     to the World Cultural Heritage list by the UNESCO in 1987.