Dunhuang (China)

Situated close to the Silk road , this was a trading post frequented by people from all walks of life - Tibetans, Chinese, Mongols, Muslims...

If you're sightseeing, head to the south western part of the town, which houses the White Horse Pagoda and the Jade Gate Pass.

The biggest attraction of Dunhaung, however, is its proximity to the Mogao Caves, which are only 25km away! Classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site, they comprise of 492 openings that Buddhist monks carved into the rock face between the 7th and 10th Centuries. They were discovered in 1900 and a treasure trove of 50,000 documents and objects was unearthed. Among these were some incredible examples of Buddhist art, including manuscripts, statues, silk paintings and murals. You'll find around 20 of these caves are open to visitors. These findings give an unimaginable view into daily life at that time, as well as filling in gaps in Chinese and Central Asian history.