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CulturalRef. 440

Mogao Caves

Cultural World Heritage property in China, inscribed in 1987 under criteria (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v), (vi).

Mogao Caves, China
Photo: Zhangzhugang · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Agra FortAncient Building Complex in the Wudang MountainsAncient City of Ping YaoBadain Jaran DesertBurkhan KhaldunCentral Axis of BeijingChina DanxiaChitwan National ParkCold Winter Deserts of TuranDazu Rock CarvingsDeer Stone Monuments, the Heart of Bronze Age CultureFanjingshanFatehpur SikriFort and Shalamar Gardens in LahoreGolden Mountains of AltaiGreat Himalayan National ParkHistoric Monuments of Dengfeng in “The Centre of Heaven and Earth”Hoh XilHuanglongHubei ShennongjiaHumayun's TombImperial Tombs of the Ming and Qing DynastiesJaipurJantar MantarJiuzhaigou ValleyKathmandu ValleyKaziranga National ParkKevladev National ParkKhangchendzonga National ParkLake BaikalLandscapes of DauriaLongmen GrottoesLumbiniLushan Quaternary Glaciation National GeoparkMaidamManas National ParkMausoleum of the First Qin EmperorMogao CavesMount Emei Scenic Area, including Leshan Giant Buddha Scenic AreaMount WutaiNanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National ParksOld Town of LijiangOrkhon ValleyPetroglyphic Complexes of the Mongolian AltaiQingchengshan-Dujiangyan National ParkQutb complexRed FortRohtas FortSagarmatha National ParkSichuan Giant Panda SanctuariesSilk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan CorridorSummer PalaceTaj MahalTamgalyTemple of HeavenThe Great WallThree Parallel Rivers National ParkTusi SitesUvs Nuur BasinWestern Tian ShanWestern Xia MausoleumsWorld Heritage Sites in TibetWulingyuanXanaduXinjiang TianshanYinxuYungang GrottoesZhoukoudian site40.037° N, 94.804° E
State Party
China
Year of inscription
1987
Criteria
iiiiiiivvvi
Location
Guazhou, Dunhuang
What it is
cave, building complex
Reference
WHC 440 · Wikidata Q43286

Why it is on the List

(i)A masterpiece of human creative genius.(ii)Shows a major exchange of ideas — in architecture, technology, art, town planning or landscape design — over time or across a cultural area.(iii)A unique or exceptional witness to a cultural tradition or a civilisation, living or vanished.(iv)An outstanding example of a building type, ensemble or landscape that illustrates a significant stage in human history.(v)An outstanding example of a traditional settlement or use of land or sea that represents a culture, especially one now vulnerable.(vi)Directly linked to events, living traditions, ideas, beliefs or artistic and literary works of outstanding universal significance.
nearby

Closest World Heritage sites

Straight-line distance between the recorded coordinates.

Badain Jaran Desert, China630 kmBadain Jaran DesertChina · 2024NaturalHoh Xil, China638 kmHoh XilChina · 2017NaturalWestern Xia Mausoleums, China979 kmWestern Xia MausoleumsChina · 2025Cultural999 kmDeer Stone Monuments, the Heart of Bronze Age CultureMongolia · 2023CulturalOrkhon Valley, Mongolia1054 kmOrkhon ValleyMongolia · 2004CulturalXinjiang Tianshan, China1091 kmXinjiang TianshanChina · 2013Natural
China

More sites in China

All 61
1987

Also inscribed in 1987

All of 1987

Data: Wikidata (CC0) · danger list as published in 2026 · independent atlas, not affiliated with UNESCO or Petit Futé.