# Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves (柏孜克里克千佛洞)

Turpan, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region · Northwest, China · Guidebook rating: 3/5
Canonical: https://cnatrip.com/en/places/bezeklik-thousand-buddha-caves
Language: en

## Key facts

- **Admission:** ¥40
- **Opening hours:** 9:30–19:00 (summer); 10:00–18:00 (winter)
- **Time needed:** 1 day
- **Getting there:** A private car is recommended. Prices vary by vehicle type, at around ¥300 per day, and you can share a car with other travellers.
- **Good for:** History & Culture, Temples

## About Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves

The Bezeklik Thousand Buddha Caves are cut into the cliffs on the western bank of the Mugou River valley, in the middle section of the Flaming Mountains, more than 40 km southeast of Turpan. There are 83 caves, and more than 40 of them retain over 1,200 square metres of murals. The earliest caves were carved in the 6th century, and the site reached its peak in the mid-9th century, during the Uyghur Kingdom of Gaochang. Both the Buddha statues and the murals have suffered varying degrees of damage from natural forces and human activity.

## Tips from the guidebook

- Visitor tips: The Thousand Buddha Caves are located on a cliffside, so do not enter areas that are not open to the public, to avoid danger. Photography and filming are not permitted inside the caves; violations may result in fines. Do not touch the murals, and do not smoke inside the caves.

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Source: China Self-Guided Travel 2025 (《中国自助游》, Tianjin Science & Technology Press, Aug 2024), p. 834. Prices, hours and transport details are as printed in the August 2024 edition and may have changed. Always confirm with the venue before you travel.
Site: China Trip (https://cnatrip.com) — independent China travel guide in 13 languages.