The Thousand Buddha Caves of Toyuk Valley, Turpan

　　　　Located approximately 55 kilometers southeast of Turpan in Xinjiang, within Toyuk Township, Shanshan County. Originally, there were 94 caves, all carved into the high cliffs on both sides of the valley entrance. Most of the caves have now collapsed, with only eight still retaining fragments of murals. A significant number of Buddhist scriptures from the 3rd to 6th centuries have been discovered here.
　　Cave No. 4 in the southeastern area of Toyuk Valley is one of the earliest cave temples in the Turpan region. The Chinese inscriptions on the murals inside the cave feature scripts similar to those found in scriptures from the late 5th to early 6th centuries, indicating that these early caves were likely carved around that time. These early caves come in various forms, including square domed chambers with central altars and rectangular vaulted caves with rear central pillars—styles introduced from Kucha. The statues inside the caves have long been destroyed, but surviving mural themes include Jataka tales and Thousand Buddha motifs.