Mogao Caves
Dunhuang, China UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Mogao Caves, located in Guazhou and Dunhuang, are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level. This archaeological site is an architectural ensemble and building complex that includes caves. It is one of the 130 sights of China on this site and is the 28th most looked-up sight in the country on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The warmest months are June, July, and August, with daily highs between 30 °C and 32 °C. For cooler weather, visit in January when daily highs are -1 °C and lows are -11 °C, or in December when highs are 0 °C and lows are -9 °C. Rainfall is minimal; July sees about 3 rainy days and August sees about 2, while most other months have 0, 1, or 2 rainy days.
The site is 14 km from the Dunhuang Mogao International Airport. It is located 1836 km from the capital, Beijing.
Weather by month
The warmest month is July, with an average high of 32 °C. Rain is spread fairly evenly through the year.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | -1 | 4 | 12 | 20 | 26 | 30 | 32 | 31 | 26 | 17 | 7 | 0 |
| Average low, °C | -11 | -7 | -2 | 4 | 10 | 16 | 18 | 16 | 11 | 3 | -4 | -9 |
| Rainfall, mm | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Rainy days | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
