World Heritage Site Reopens to Tourists

The Mogao Grottoes, a renowned UNESCO World Heritage site in northwest China’s Gansu Province, reopened on May 10 after being closed for months due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The well-known tourist site will strictly control daily visits to less than 30 percent of its previous maximum visits, or about 1,800 tickets per day, while the digital center and display room will remain closed until further notice, said the Dunhuang Academy who is in charge of the heritage.

Visitors are required to book tickets online, have their temperatures taken and wear masks during their visits. Group visits will not be accepted yet, said the academy, adding that medical workers will be given free admission till the end of this year.

The Mogao Grottoes have been offering online exhibitions on platforms including its official website, social media platform of Wechat, and video-sharing apps for visitors trapped at home.

The national museum, first constructed in A.D. 366, is home to various collections of Buddhist artwork – more than 2,000 colored sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals – all located in 735 caves carved along a cliff by worshipers in ancient times.