A-ai Grotto

A-ai Grotto Located to the northwest of Yidik Village, A-ge Township, Kucha County, and about 60 kilometers to the south of Kucha, the gratto were excavated on the cliffs of the Kizilia Gorge, 30 meters high from the bottom the gorge. Found in the spring 1999, the grotto is a single caved square temple and there is an altar in the middle of the grotto. The contents of the murals in the Grotto include Buddhist stories, thousand Buddha figures, etc. The murals are all colorful, displaying the strong influence of the Chinese culture in Tang Dynasty to the Western Regions. Some valuable relics were found here, including numerous inscriptions in Chinese on the mural, remains of clay sculptures, and stone statues of Buddha, etc. There are ruins of ancient city and smelter around the grotto.