Life advice: Make a trip to the Mogao Caves early on

The art of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang has always attracted and called to me with an exotic and mysterious allure. This trip fulfilled a long-held dream, but the damage is severe. Not only are there traces of vandalism with glue, but I also saw signs of collapse on the tops of the niches. Experts estimate that under the influence of human activity and natural conditions, Dunhuang is gradually disappearing. In the next 50 to 100 years, the Mogao Caves may be buried in the sands. Perhaps in the future, we will no longer be able to see the true face of the Mogao Caves and will have to rely on digital means to see a virtual representation. Standing in the niche and hearing the guide tell us that the lotus brick under our feet dates back to the Western Xia Dynasty, and seeing the art from the Northern Liang and Northern Wei periods that has spanned over a thousand years right before your eyes, the emotion and shock are indescribable. However, due to time constraints, I didn't visit the Yulin Caves, the Western Thousand Buddha Caves, the Eastern Thousand Buddha Caves, or the five temple grottoes within the territory of Subei County (all of which are part of the Dunhuang grottoes). But fortunately, I am confident that I will return to Dunhuang in the near future, so this is not a regret but an anticipation.