How to Meet Arjai in Northern China

Deep in the heart of the Ordos Plateau in Inner Mongolia stands the Arjai Grottoes, a site often hailed as the "Dunhuang of the Grasslands."

The Arjai Grottoes represent the largest grotto complex discovered in Inner Mongolia. A total of 65 caves have been identified, with 43 remaining relatively intact. The murals primarily depict Buddhist themes. This site is not only a rare religious art treasure trove that integrates Buddhist worship with offering rituals, but also serves as a valuable visual archive for the study of the Mongolian ethnic group’s history, culture, and folk traditions. It possesses tremendous historical, religious, cultural, and artistic significance.