Dunhuang, China, The Mogao Caves Chinese: 莫高窟; known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes Chinese: åƒä½›æ´ž; form a system of 492 temples . 25 km southeast of the center of Dunhuang, an oasis strategically located at a religious and cultural crossroads on the Silk Road, in Gansu province, China. The caves may also be known as the Dunhuang Caves.