Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves

Kizil Thousand Buddha Caves is located east of Kuqa, 70Km away from Kuqa downtown. It is protected by national cultural unites. The Caves located on the cliff of mountain in the north bank of Muzat River.

The Kizil Buddha Caves dates back to from third century to eighth or nighth century, and caves divided in to early stage caves, middle stage caves, and late stage caves. There are 236caves in total, and it was built one century earlier then the Mogao grottoes in Dunhuang, the kizil thousand Buddha caves not only popular among the regular tourist but also arts and researchers. The Kizil Thousand Buddha caves are signigicant in history of Qiuci and Buddhism. Qiuci is the name of Kuqa in the past. It was used to be the communication center of the silk road as well as the political and economic center of the western region and central Asia. Islam came to Kuqa around 13th century and since then the people in Kuqa are muslim.