After visiting Mogao Caves 4 times, I finally figured out how to explore them properly.

I. Pre-trip Preparation: You'll be lost without these tips! 1. Tickets MUST be booked in advance!! (Important!) • Book through the official website/WeChat account "Mogao Caves Visit Reservation." Choose between "Type A" and "Type B" tickets. Strongly recommend Type A (CNY 238, includes digital movies + 8 regular caves + shuttle bus + guide). Type B only includes 4 caves without guide - much less worthwhile! • During peak season (April-November), book at least 10 days ahead! Especially for weekends - I only found afternoon slots when booking a week ahead😭 • ID number required when booking, bring ID for entry verification. 2. Best timing: Start at 9am! • First digital movie starts at 9am. Arrive 1 hour early to avoid crowds and find parking easily. Afternoon sessions have poor lighting and rushed guides. • Wear comfortable shoes! 15-minute bus ride from Digital Center to cave area, plus walking - no high heels! 3. Essential items: • Sun hat/umbrella (Dunhuang sun is intense), water bottle (none sold in cave area), light jacket (caves maintain 15°C while outside is 30°C+), power bank (photos drain battery quickly). • No selfie sticks! Photography prohibited inside caves, allowed outside, but security may confiscate selfie sticks. II. Visiting Process: Follow this route for the best experience! ❶ Digital Center: Start with two movies for instant understanding! • First movie "Millennium Mogao" on dome screen, watch from sofa with incredible special effects, like time-traveling to ancient Dunhuang! Second movie "Dream Buddha Palace" in 3D previews classic caves, helps understand details later. • Take shuttle bus to cave area after movies (15-minute ride through Gobi Desert - perfect for road trip photos!) ❷ Cave Visit: Stay close to your guide - this is where the knowledge is! • After arrival, scan ID at entrance, get randomly assigned to a guide (groups of about 15). • Important: You'll see 8 random regular caves (e.g., Cave 96 Giant Buddha, Cave 17 Library Cave, Cave 257 Nine-Colored Deer). Guide explains classics for 5-10 minutes each, covering mural stories, history, and artistic details - 100 times better than exploring alone! • Caves are dark, follow guide's flashlight beam for details! Colors still vibrant after 1000+ years, flying apsaras' ribbons seem to move - truly breathtaking! • No photos! No touching! Phones on silent, speak quietly, respect the relics. ❸ Hidden tip: Special caves worth the extra cost! • After regular caves, ticket window near exit sells special cave tickets (4-5 open in peak season, CNY 150-300 each, cash/Alipay). Highly recommend Cave 220 (early Tang Dynasty murals, stunning colors, beautiful apsaras) and Cave 428 (Northern Zhou murals, great storytelling, 30-minute explanation). • Special caves have fewer visitors, more detailed explanations, closer views (still no photos). Worth it if budget allows! Regret not bringing more money😭 ❹ Photo spots: 3 must-visit locations for perfect shots! • Steps in front of Nine-Story Building: Buddha backdrop, upward angle makes people look tall, perfect with hanfu/solid-color dresses! • Ancient Poplar Plank Road: Between caves and exit, Gobi Desert and dead trees create atmospheric silhouettes. • Mogao Caves sign at Digital Center: Blue sign with desert background, essential photo spot! III. Avoiding Pitfalls: Learn from my mistakes! 1. Don't count on "emergency tickets"! None available during peak season, advance online booking essential! 2. Guides won't automatically take you to special caves - ask staff at exit! 3. Skip cave area souvenirs! Exit shop is expensive, Dunhuang Night Market has more variety, better prices (e.g., magnets 3 for CNY 10 vs. CNY 15 each at caves). 4. Don't touch murals or shine lights! Previous tourists' flashlights damaged colors - be respectful visitors! IV. Nearby Attractions: Convenient stops! 1. Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Moon Spring: 20 minutes from caves, visit after 5pm for sunset camel rides (bargain for CNY 100/person in peak season), great for night sky photos. 2. Dunhuang Night Market: Shazhou Market, try donkey meat noodles (CNY 15), apricot skin drink (CNY 5), oil cake, buy luminous cups as souvenirs (bargain to CNY 30). 3. Yulin Caves: Less crowded alternative, 1 hour from city, murals rival Mogao, recommended if time allows. V. Accommodation Tips: Stay in city center! • Dunhuang city is compact. Stay near Shazhou Market - 5-minute walk to night market, CNY 30 taxi to Mogao (20 minutes), CNY 20 to Mingsha Mountain (15 minutes). • Luxury option: Dunhuang Hotel, desert-style, photogenic. Budget option: Home Inn/7 Days Inn, clean and affordable at CNY 150/night. Conclusion: Is Mogao worth visiting? Absolutely! Previously thought "they're just caves," but experiencing "a thousand years in one glance" changed everything. Guide stories better than documentaries, especially moving at Library Cave's small wooden door. Watch "Hexi Corridor" documentary before visiting - doubles the experience!