Kizil Caves

The Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves, located near Kucha in Xinjiang, are among the earliest major Buddhist cave complexes in China, with the oldest caves dating back to around the 3rd century. Carved into the cliffs above the Muzat River, the site contains more than 230 caves created over roughly five hundred years by the ancient Kingdom of Kucha, a thriving oasis state on the Silk Road. The caves are best known for their murals, which depict stories of the Buddha's past lives within distinctive diamond-shaped frames, painted in vivid blues made from lapis lazuli. Their artistic style blends Indian, Gandharan, Persian, and Central Asian influences, reflecting the cultural exchange that flowed along the Silk Road. In 2014, the caves were inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Silk Roads: the Routes Network of Chang'an–Tianshan Corridor.