Sanwei Fairyland

The Sanwei Fairyland is known for its magnificence, elegance and steepness. "The precipitous peaks standing against each other in the east" is one of the traditional sightseeing spots in Dunhuang. Peaks after peaks are stretching a dozen li, with the main peak of Sanwei Mountains overlooking Mogao Grottoes across the Daquan River.  

The legend has it that the Empress of Heaven, the Goddess of Mercy and the High Lord of Heaven all once came to visit Sanwei Mountains. The ancient memorial construction like Wangmu Palace, (The Palace of the Empress of Heaven) Guanyin Cell (the Cell of the Goddess of Mercy) and the Laojun Hall (the Hall of the High Lord of Heaven) can still be seen today. 1600 years ago, the monk Yue Seng once traveled here and saw the amazing spectacle of a myriad of images of Buddha in the golden light, so he hewed out the first cave shrine in Dunhuang.

The legend makes the Sanwei Fairyland more mysterious and respectful. Now a lot of temples, abbeys, corridors, towers and pavilions such as the Hall of the Goddess of Mercy, the Temple of Peacefulness and the Huge Buddha in the open air are throughout the scenic area and draw a great number of tourists and Buddhism believers to worship and hold services.