Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level
Many of the sculpture pieces from the sites were removed and sold internationally as early as 1909. A number were sold to the American collector Charles Freer by the art dealer C.T. Loo, who is suspected of arranging for their removal from China without permission. Many are now in the Freer Gallery in Washington, D.C. (Chinese regulations and Western museum practices now promote protection of such cultural treasures) The caves are a Major Historical and Cultural Site Protected at the National Level (designation 1-40).