@historicpicture: The mural caves here predate those at Dunhuang. Although many of the murals are badly damaged, they still preserve the distinctive Kucha (Qiuci) artistic style. Each diamond-shaped panel tells its own story. The caves feature an abundance of blue tones, created using finely ground lapis lazuli pigment. It is said that at the time, lapis lazuli was worth three times as much as gold. Inside one of the caves, I saw a magnificent seven-layered ceiling and images of two-headed Garuda (golden-winged birds), creating the impression of gazing into a starry night sky. Photography and bags are not allowed inside the caves. The 6th-century blue hues are truly breathtaking, and seeing them in person makes it easy to understand why lapis lazuli was considered so precious. #kizilcaves #buddhism #silkroad

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