01City Guide
Mogao Caves
莫高窟
All Ages
Admission
Reservation required; choose a regular or emergency visit online.
Typical Visit
Half a day
Quick Facts
Ticket
Included within a Mogao Caves reservation; no separate ticket.
Hours
Follows Mogao Caves hours: Apr 1-Nov 30 08:00-18:00, last entry 16:10; Dec 1-Mar 31 09:00-17:00, last entry 15:10.
Transport
No direct metro; begin at the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center.
Duration
Part of a half-day Mogao Caves visit
Best Time
Apr-Nov for the peak-season schedule; keep plans flexible during severe weather.
Visitors
All ages
How to Visit
1
Include the Library Cave within a Mogao Caves visit
The Library Cave is Mogao Cave 17 and is listed among the normally open caves; its timing, entrance and ticket checks all follow the Mogao Caves visit process.
Tip:Do not set aside half a day or buy a separate ticket for it, and do not plan on entering Cave 17 for certain on that day.
2
Complete the Mogao Caves real-name reservation first
Visitors with foreign passports or Hong Kong/Macao/Taiwan travel documents book through Ticket Booking in the Mogao Caves Visit Reservation WeChat service account and carry the original document used for booking.
Tip:Do not arrange inflexible return transport solely around Cave 17; the cave route is organised on site.
3
Check in at the Digital Exhibition Center as required for Mogao Caves
Arrive at least 30 minutes before the reserved time at the Mogao Caves Digital Exhibition Center, 8899 Yangguan East Road, Dunhuang, to complete ticket checks and begin the visit.
Tip:There is no separate ticket office at the cave area, so going directly to the caves does not replace check-in at the Digital Exhibition Center.
4
If the day's route enters Cave 17, follow the cave rules throughout the visit
Do not take photos or video, touch relics or leave the on-site visitor group; leave when directed.
Tip:Cave 17 is a small space, so do not expect a long stop, a private explanation or the freedom to return to it independently.
Highlights
- The Library Cave is Mogao Cave 17, a side chamber off the corridor of Cave 16.
- The discovery in 1900 of large quantities of Buddhist scriptures, documents, account books, contracts, paintings and embroidery made it important for understanding medieval society.
- Its significance lies not only in Buddhist art, but also in the written records and everyday documents it once preserved across several periods.
- The Dunhuang Star Map B at Dunhuang Museum offers a useful connection to the history of the Library Cave finds.
- The cave itself is small; its discovery history and manuscript value are the main focus rather than its scale.
Insider Tips
✦Do not plan on Cave 17 as a guaranteed stop; allow half a day for the full Mogao Caves visit.
✦Once at the Digital Exhibition Center, keep your identity document and visit information with you throughout.
✦Photography and filming are not allowed in caves; record the visit in outdoor areas where photography is permitted.
✦Do not bring luggage or parcels of 20 inches or larger, pets or drones into the cave area.
✦Heavy rain or severe sandstorms may suspend cave visits, so leave room to adjust later transport and accommodation.
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