Cave paintings inspire kung fu in NW China

Wang Jianzhong (R), an inheritor of Dunhuang boxing, teaches the doctrine of kung fu featured in Dunhuang cave paintings, in Gansu province on June 22. Dunhuang boxing is inspired from kung fu movements depicted in Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes as well as Gansu's own local martial arts.[Photo/Xinhua]

Know about Mogao Grottoes

The Mogao Caves or Thousand Buddha Grottoes is a tourist attraction in Dunhuang city, Gansu province. It was honored as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

The art of Dunhuang covers more than ten major genres, such as architecture, stucco sculpture, wall paintings, music and dance.

The caves were cut into the side of a cliff, close to two kilometers long. Some 735 caves currently exist in Mogao, filled extensively with Buddhist murals which cover an area of 45,000 square meters.