Ah-ai Grotto

Ah-ai Grotto
Mural figures on the left side wall
LocationXinjiang, China
DiscoveryDiscovered by Tudi Azze in 1999
Entrances1

The Ah-ai Grotto (Chinese: 阿艾石窟; pinyin: Ā ài shíkū) is a small, standalone Buddhist rock-cut cave located in the Kyziliya Grand Canyon, Kuqa, Xinjiang. The area is under the administration of Ah-ai Town, hence its name. The grotto was discovered by a young Uyghur shepherd named Tudi Azze (吐地阿孜) in April 1999, while on his way to collecting medicinal herbs.

Compared with other famous sites in Xinjiang, such as Bezeklik Caves or Kizil Caves, the small Ah-ai Grotto is not widely known. The cave murals have suffered from vandalism.

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