One of the oldest painted ceilings in Mogao. Celestial dancers and donors whirl among lotus blossoms beneath an indigo sky. The first breathtaking fusion of Central Asian shadows and Chinese lines.One of the oldest painted ceilings in Mogao. Celestial dancers and donors whirl among lotus blossoms beneath an indigo sky. The first breathtaking fusion of Central Asian shadows and Chinese lines.

The gentle Deer King sacrifices himself to save a drowning man. Earthy reds and flowing iron-wire lines tell a timeless tale of compassion and karma that still moves visitors 1,500 years later. The gentle Deer King sacrifices himself to save a drowning man. Earthy reds and flowing iron-wire lines tell a timeless tale of compassion and karma that still moves visitors 1,500 years later.