Mogao Caves, the standing monuments of ancient Chinese culture and artwork, in Dunhuang

Several foreign explorers and archaeologists removed massive hoards of ancient manuscripts and sacred art from the Mogao Caves (specifically the hidden "Library Cave," or Cave 17) in Dunhuang, China, during the early 20th century. 

While the chamber was originally discovered by a local Daoist monk named Wang Yuanlu in 1900, the key figure widely accused by China of "raiding" or looting the site is Sir Marc Aurel Stein. He was quickly followed by a succession of other international figures.  Wikipedia

One of the main items in this visit to China was to visit the Mogao Caves to see the extraordinary and splendid works of Buddhist arts created thousands of years, hidden in the more than 700 caves of Mogao in Dunhuang. The European explorers or thieves, led by Marc Stein, systematically looted the caves, cut and carted thousands of paintings, books and sculptures to Europe, now exhibited proudly in the museums of thieves. They will have to return them to China one day. But the damages had been done and many exquisite art works were damaged, some broken and destroyed, some lost. 

Below are some pics of a live show in Dunhuang, narrating the pains of the Chinese people during a time of weakness and could not stop the European thieves from stealing their national treasures from their land. The artworks were a sign of the advancement in Chinese culture, science and technology thousands of years ago, when the Chinese were using colours, textiles, embroidery, musical instruments, paper etc etc in a time when life was rich and vibrant, peaceful, trade prospered, while the European savages were still killing each other in their savage wars.

Mogao Caves. Behind every door is a cave housing exquisite ancient artworks over thousands of years old. Many looted, destroyed. Still many are still there, the caves can be 20m x 20m x 30m big. More than 700 of them, mainly in the eastern site called Caves of thousand Buddhas. On the western site, 22 caves were untouched and survived the looting. There  were many sculptures of Buddha, Mateiya, Guanyin, Ananda and Boddhistvas.

Wall paintings in the Mogao Caves

More paintings. Unfortunately no photography allowed inside the caves. There were from pictures available.

Dancers of a live show in Dunhuang portraying the beautiful sculptures of female sculptures that were stolen from the caves.

Every dancer represented a beautiful sculpture stolen from the caves and carted to Europe.

More dancers/sculptures

More.... All the stolen items are now claimed as the worthy possession of the Europeans, kept proudly in their museums of thieves. China will demand for their return one day when it is strong enough to do so. The European savages were just low down thieves. They looted, plundered and stole everything in their days of colonisation and imperialism.