Grotto Art | China Bound

Performance brings murals in Mogao Caves to life

A new performance in Dunhuang, Northwest China's Gansu province, revives the musical and dance scenes depicted in the murals of the Mogao Caves and offers an immersive experience for the audience to experience the charm of the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Dedicated to a new age of restoration

The spirit of continuity, which spans the generations who protect the caves, remains evident, report Fang Aiqing, Wang Kaihao in Dunhuang, Gansu province, and Ma Jingna in Lanzhou.

AI revives Dunhuang's Lotus Cassion Ceiling of Flying Apsaras

Static Dunhuang murals can move via modern technology.

Chinese version of 'Digital Library Caves' goes online

Let's celebrate the release of the Chinese version of "Dunhuang Library Caves".

Museum staff demonstrates hand gestures from Dunhuang art

How many Dunhuang hand gestures can you recognize?

Chinese classical dance Dunhuang 'Kalaviṅka'

A visual feast of Dunhuang art.

A dance depicts beauty of Dunhuang

A charming dancer revives Dunhuang murals through dancing.

AI revives Dunhuang's mythical Nine-Colored Deer

When AI meets the Dunhuang murals, the legendary Nine-Colored Deer awakens from the ancient caves, stepping into the modern world on a stream of light. This timeless legend transcends the ages, resonating with today's era.

VR Dunhuang

The literal "sands of time" can take their toll on cultural relics such as the Mogao Grottos. Enter VR, just one technological solution to preserve and share this unique history.

Layers of sacred reflections

One theme that continually echoes through the world-renowned Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu province, is the passage of time. Tour guides often point out that the black elephant and black horse depicted in two frescoes — illustrating the mythical birth of Shakyamuni, the historical founder of Buddhism, and his departure from a life of luxury in pursuit of enlightenment — were originally painted white. Their darkened appearance today is the result of oxidation over a millennium.