Mogao Grottos in Gansu Province,

5. Old Watch Tower

Mogao Grottos have preserved many murals and graceful color statues. In 1900 about 50,000 items of cultural relics were found in the Scripture-Keeping Cave (Cave No.17) dating from the 4th to the 14th century. There are hand-written texts on Buddhism, Taoism and Confucianism, historic records, accounting books, letters and court records in Chinese, Tibetan, Sanskrit, Falu, Sute, Hetian and Huihe languages. Also found are several hundred pieces of painting and embroidery. They are of high values for the study on politics, economy, culture, military affairs and foreign relations in ancient China.