Yulin Grottoes

Yulin Grottoes, branch of the Dunhuang art complex, are located 75 kilometers southeast of Anxi.They are also named Ten-thousand Buddha valley. There are 41 major caves and hundreds of others scattered around. In 1036 AD, the Western Xia occupied Gua and Sha, (the name of ancient Anxi and Dunhuang). After founding his kingdom, emperor Li Yuanhao, who was conversant in the classics and history, is expert in painting, and a devout believer in Buddhism, undertook a large scale construction of grottoes and mural painting. Murals of his period are unique and  exquisite—the highlihgts of Yulin Grotto art.

There are of huge scripture drawings,portraits of Buddha,rare animals and plants, the scenes of plowing, harvesting, weddings, banquets, brewing, ironsmelting, and dancing, etc. The big drawings on the southern and northern walls of cave 25, these drawings reveal the artists' skillfulness and accuracy,  this drawings represent the highly developed art of painting in the Tang Dynasty more than 1300 years ago and it is the essence of the Yulin Grottoes.