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Nature 459, 778-779 (11 June 2009) | doi:10.1038/459778a; Published online 10 June 2009

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Charting the heavens from China

Jane Qiu1

ARTS REVIEWED: The Dunhuang Star Chart

The British Library, London
Until 18 August 2009.

Along the ancient trade route of the Silk Road connecting China and the West, the Mogao Caves honeycomb the Mingsha Hill some 25 kilometres southeast of Dunhuang, a desert town in Gansu province. Excavated between the fourth and fourteenth centuries, the caves were Buddhist shrines and temples where travellers prayed for the success of their journeys.