Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves Travel Guide

56 kilometers (35 miles) northeast of the Turpan, Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves contain 67 caves dating from the Northern and Southern dynasties (317 - 589) to the Yuan dynasty (1279 - 1368).

In the Uigur language Bezeklik means "place where there are paintings". These caves are one of the largest Buddhist "grotto" sites in Xinjiang. It used to be an important center for Buddhist worship under the Xizhou Huigu government of Gaochang Kingdom, which built the royal temple of the King of Huigu at this site. The caves are well hidden and rest on a long ridge overlooking a valley where the monastery was located. Originally it is accessible via a winding pathway to the cliff top, and a steep stairway led down to the monastery 30 feet below.

Among 83 numbered grottoes, about 40 of them have rich remains of murals. The most exceptionally rare mural topics in Bizaklik Caves are found in Caves No.16 and 17. Cave No.16 depicts a musician playing Xiao Hu Lei-- a lute-like instrument originating from southern China´s Yunnan province. The mural Transformation in Hell in Cave No.17 supports the notion Huihu Gaochang was the center of Manicheism from 9 to 12 century.

Some murals present clearly the figurines of the Huigu people; some showed Indian monks and portraits of Buddhas at different periods throughout history. They are briefly divided into four periods chronologically.