The most famous scenic spot around Dunhuang is Mogao caves. In hundreds of caves are antique buddhist paintings and sculptures: their quality, size, quantity, state of conservation and beauty are just impressive. Unfortunately, it is forbidden to take pictures inside the caves. At the west of Dunhuang is Yangguan Pass: it is an historical site which used to be the West border of the Chinese Empire. A Tang dynasty fortress has been recently built there to illustrate what this place represented before.