Pigments and plasters from wall paintings of Buddhist temples in Dunhuang, Northwest China were analyzed by an electron probe x-ray microanalyzer (EPMA) and an x-ray diffractometer. The structure of each paint layer was examined for surface and cross section samples of paint fragments taken from the walls with an optical microscope. From the results of elemental analysis by EPMA, the pigments seem to be vermilion, litharge or minium, azurite, atacamite, red iron oxide, lead white, white calcium and magnesium compounds. Calcite, dolomite, albite and alpha-quartz were detected only in the plasters by an x-ray diffractometer. From the wall painting of the Qutan temple in the Qinghai Province, atacamite, red and yellow iron oxides, and black copper sulfide were detected. -- AATA