Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, located in the middle section of Flaming Mountain, about 45 kilometers east of Turpan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

2024.9.30 Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves, located on the cliff on the west bank of the Mutougou River Valley in the middle section of Flaming Mountain, about 45 kilometers east of Turpan City, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, is the most abundant cave and mural content in the existing grottoes in Turpan, and it is also one of the larger Buddhist grotto temples in Xinjiang. Historical evolution ‌Excavation time‌: It was excavated in the late Northern and Southern Dynasties, and experienced the Tang, Five Dynasties, Song, and Yuan Dynasties for a long period of seven centuries. ‌Prosperous period‌: The period of Gaochang Huihu was the most prosperous stage of the grotto group. It was once the royal temple of Gaochang King. ‌Decline and destruction‌: At the end of the 13th century AD, with the eastward migration of the Gaochang royal family to Yongchang, Gansu, and the introduction of Islam into Turpan, Buddhism gradually declined, and the Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves also declined and were destroyed in the conflict of heterodoxy. In addition, at the beginning of this century, it was repeatedly looted and destroyed by powers such as Russia, Germany, Britain, and Japan, which further aggravated its damage. Caves and murals ‌Number of caves‌: There were originally 83 caves, 57 of which are now in existence, and more than 40 of them have murals. ‌Mural content‌: The total area of ​​the murals is 1,200 square meters, and the content is extremely rich, including the story of "The Buddha's Life Change" centered on large standing Buddha images, Buddhist story paintings, marriage story paintings, and thousands of Buddha statues, etc., aiming to praise the Dharma and provide good men and women for worship. ‌Characteristic caves‌: ‌No. 17 and 18 caves‌: Excavated in the 6th to 7th centuries AD, they are the earliest excavated caves in the grotto group. ‌No. 16 cave‌: Excavated in the middle of the Tang Dynasty, there is a "Ji Le Tu" in the cave, and the ancient musical instrument Xiao Hulei (Dragon Head Pipa) appeared for the first time in the picture. ‌No. 20 cave‌: The murals depict the images of Gaochang Huihu King and Queen, with bright colors, smooth lines, and exquisite painting. ‌No. 33 cave‌: There is a tribute map on the back wall that shows the disciples mourning after the Buddha's Nirvana. ‌No. 38 cave‌: The murals reflect the life scenes of ancient Manichaeism. ‌No. 82 and 83 caves‌: They are small memorial caves built specifically for high monks in Buddhist temples. Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves is not only a large-scale Buddhist art treasure house, but also carries rich historical and cultural information. There are still many ancient Huihu, Chinese, and Brahmi inscriptions in the cave, which are valuable materials for studying ancient characters. Despite the vicissitudes of life, the remaining Buddha seats are still gorgeous and exquisite, and the remaining murals are rich in content and colorful, showing the superb skills and profound cultural heritage of ancient artists. On February 23, 1982, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves was announced by the State Council as the second batch of national key cultural relics protection units.