World heritage grottoes controls visitor flow in summer

The Mogao Grottoes in northwest China's Gansu province. [Photo/Xinhua]

The administration committee for the Mogao Grottoes in northwest China has drafted an emergency plan to control the flow of tourists for the summer.

The plan will be in effect during odd-numbered dates in July and even-numbered dates in August, with a maximum of 12,000 tickets to be issued daily. Visitors can book tickets one day prior to their visit.

Tickets under the emergency plan will also be reserved on a real name basis.

The Mogao Grottoes feature a huge collection of Buddhist art, with more than 2,000 colored sculptures and 45,000 square meters of frescoes in 735 caves carved along a cliff. Listed in 1987, it was China's first UNESCO World Heritage Site.