The Mogao Grottos are very impressive. A traveling monk saw Buddha’s bright light (foguang) behind the hill while resting nearby. To commemorate the spot he erected a Buddha shrine and what started out as a simple one became numerous and more and more elaborate over the centuries. Impressive statues and frescoes were built and painted in excavated grottos. Asparas or graceful flying angels/fairies are frequently depicted on the frescos. To my chagrin, photography is strictly prohibited and enforced. I smuggled my Leica M8 with a single lens in (hidden in the back pocket of my vest) but ended up not using it.