The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

　　    Situated on the steep cliffs of the western bank of the Mugu River Valley in the middle section of the Flaming Mountains, over 40 kilometers southeast of Turpan, the complex consists of 83 caves, over 40 of which still retain more than 1,200 square meters of murals. The earliest caves were carved in the 6th century, with the site flourishing during the mid-9th century under the Uyghur Kingdom of Qocho. Both the Buddha statues and murals have been damaged to varying degrees—some due to religious reasons, others looted by 20th-century explorers.