Kizil Caves

Kizil Caves

The Kizil Caves (also known as the Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves) are located on the cliffs of the northern bank of the Muzat River Valley in Mingwutage Mountain, Kizil Township, Baicheng County, adjacent to Kuqa. They lie 73 kilometers west of Kuqa and 67 kilometers east of Baicheng. These caves represent the earliest and westernmost large-scale cave complex in China, with their excavation beginning in the 3rd century (late Eastern Han Dynasty), reaching their peak during the 5th to 7th centuries, and gradually ceasing by the end of the 8th century. Their long period of development is unparalleled worldwide. The Kizil Caves share the esteemed title of one of China’s “Four Great Grottoes” alongside the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang. However, the Kizil Caves are the earliest among them, having been established in the 3rd century—predating the Mogao Caves.