The protection of the main caves was emphasized

Zhao Shengliang, a long-time Dunhuang art scholar, stood shoulder to shoulder with President Xi Jinping as they carefully examined caves, sculptures and paintings that are more than 1,600 years old.

It was the second time Zhao had accompanied Xi Jinping on such a cultural inspection, but the moment left as profound an impression on him as the first, reaffirming the president’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding China’s rich heritage.

As part of Xi’s four-day trip to Gansu province last week, Zhao accompanied the president on a research trip to the Maijishan Grottoes, one of four major grotto sites in China. The other three are the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu; the Yungang Grottoes in Datong, Shanxi province; and the Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, Henan province.

Xi, who is also general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, encouraged cultural heritage professionals to continue to engage in safeguarding the nation’s treasures and step up efforts to preserve and upgrade China’s rich cultural heritage, while strengthening China’s cultural influence in the international arena.

The Maijishan Grottoes comprise 221 caves connected by raised walkways and house over 10,000 clay sculptures. Known as the “Oriental Sculpture Museum,” it is a significant landmark on the ancient Silk Road.

There are nearly 6,000 cave temples across China’s vast territory, and the Chinese president has called the country’s main grottoes “treasures of Chinese civilization” with significant historical and cultural value.

Xi previously visited the Mogao Grottoes in August 2019, on a trip that Zhao also took part in, and the Yungang Grottoes in May 2020.

Zhao, who is also the party secretary of Dunhuang Academy, said: “The strongest impression I got was President Xi’s deep respect for China’s outstanding traditional culture. He has shown great concern for cultural heritage sites that represent Chinese civilization, such as the Mogao and Maijishan Grottoes, and has devoted considerable attention to preserving these cultural relics.”

Zhao said the president was also very attentive when he visited art workers restoring cave paintings in the complex.

“I think it is important today for more people to learn about the Maijishan Grottoes, especially artists who can draw inspiration from their sculptures and create new works that will contribute to the development of contemporary socialist culture,” he added.

Ning Qiang, dean of the Faculty of Arts and Research at Beijing Foreign Studies University, said the grottoes are a testament to the cultural exchanges between China and other civilizations and embody the spirit of inclusiveness, adaptation and innovation of Chinese culture, another important factor underlying the president’s strong interest in cultural heritage.

The Maijishan Grottoes are one of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites on the “Silk Road: Changan-Tianshan Corridor”, which runs through China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.

“It was the shared beliefs and lifestyles of the people living in these regions that led to the formation of caves as a shared cultural achievement,” Ning added.

Since being elected general secretary of the CPC Central Committee in 2012, Xi has issued more than 170 important directives on cultural relics, archaeology and intangible cultural heritage and conducted fieldwork at more than 100 historical and cultural heritage sites.

“Historical and cultural heritage are precious resources that can neither be renewed nor replaced, and their protection should always be a priority,” Xi said during a visit to the Yungang Grottoes in Shanxi.

During a visit to Gansu last week, Xi expressed his support for the Dunhuang Academy in its efforts to become a model for safeguarding world cultural heritage and a center for Dunhuang studies.

Scholar Zhao emphasized the need to understand the distinctive features of the Maijishan Grottoes.

“To enhance the impact of Maijishan Grottoes, it is crucial to follow the approach of using culture to shape tourism and tourism to showcase culture,” Zhao said.

Conservation efforts for Dunhuang culture have been extended to the Maijishan Grottoes, Zhao said, adding that a complete monitoring and early warning system has been put in place, with each grotto being monitored for air quality, temperature and humidity. Across the country, China is also making great progress in protecting its grottoes and other similar cultural heritage.

He added that digital collections for eight cave temples in the Maijishan Grottoes have been completed, and many murals and colorful sculptures have been restored, with conservation work still ongoing.

The Dunhuang Academy, which boasts cutting-edge cave painting conservation technology, benefits from significant financial and personnel support from the government.

“We are currently applying this method to cultural heritage sites beyond local borders. We believe that the ideas and technologies used to protect caves will provide valuable insights into the development of tourism and the rational use of cultural heritage sites around the world,” Zhao said.