DUNHUANG, July 24 : Digitization is the practical solution for the permanent preservation and sustainable utilization of the Dunhuang grottoes. It serves as a catalyst for the protection, research, and promotion of the Dunhuang caves and provides strong support for new models of tourism at the Mogao Caves.
In recent years, the Dunhuang Academy has harnessed big data and Internet Plus technologies to build an integrated platform for unified management and monitoring of six cave sites under its jurisdiction, spanning 1,600 kilometers east to west. This digital innovation has created a new model for tourist visitation.
This was stated by Ding Xiaosheng, Deputy Director Cultural Heritage Digitization Institute Dunhuang Academy during his ‘Dunhuang Culture-Themed Lecture’ at opening ceremony of “Discover Dunhuang: Light of the Silk Road ” International Media Field Trip in Dunhuang, Gansu, China.
Currently, the Digital Dunhuang experience covers the entire 344,000 square meters of the Mogao Caves. Virtual digital content created through 3D modeling has been seamlessly integrated with real cave environments, continually enhancing the visitor experience.
By deeply exploring the artistic and cultural value of digital resources, refining materials, and transforming digital achievements into accessible resources and industrialized assets, the Dunhuang Academy has launched the “Open Material Library” and “Digital Library Cave,” further upgrading the Digital Dunhuang brand and promoting the deep integration of technology and culture. The academy has also developed customized educational courses on topics such as mural preservation and restoration, the inheritance and innovation of Dunhuang art, the relationship between Buddhist scriptures and murals, Dunhuang color studies, and the modern relevance of Dunhuang manuscript calligraphy. Drawing on the rich digital and academic resources of cave culture, the academy has successfully established the Mogao Classroom study tour brand, catering to the diverse interests of visitors.
Founded in 1944, the Dunhuang Academy has always been dedicated to the protection, research, and promotion of the Dunhuang caves. It has established a comprehensive workflow and core technologies for digitizing immovable cultural relics, including 2D digital mural imaging based on photography and computing, 3D reconstruction of painted sculptures using laser scanning and structured light, and large-scale site digitization using remote sensing and oblique photography.
In the area of heritage conservation, the academy has continued its work on relic protection while adopting advanced international technologies and concepts. This has led to the development of a systematic and scientific set of protocols and standards for the preservation of ancient murals and earthen sites. As a pioneer in cultural relic digitization in China, the academy has formulated standards for digital protection and completed digital mural imaging for nearly 300 caves at Dunhuang. Through years of scientific research and practical engineering, it has built a world-class conservation team with international vision. This team has undertaken more than 260 mural and earthen site conservation projects across over 20 provinces and autonomous regions in China, while also providing technical support and Chinese solutions for heritage conservation in Belt and Road countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Myanmar.
In terms of Dunhuang cultural research, the academy has expanded from early mural copying and painting techniques to include archaeology of the Dunhuang caves, art history, mural iconography, Dunhuang manuscript studies, and Silk Road research on ethnic groups and religions. Comprehensive archaeological excavation and documentation have been completed for the forecourt ruins and northern section of the Mogao Caves. The academy has hosted over 40 international academic symposiums on Dunhuang studies and has deepened cultural exchange with countries along the Belt and Road. Today, the Dunhuang Academy has become a key international base and academic hub for Dunhuang studies.
In promoting Dunhuang culture, the academy has pioneered a new tourism model of “visitor quota management + online reservations + digital displays + guided cave tours.” This effectively balances heritage protection with tourism development and was recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee as a “Best Practice in Tourism Management at World Heritage Sites.” At the same time, the academy has built a professional team of nearly 300 highly trained cave guides and visitor service staff. Fluent in Chinese, Japanese, English, French, German, and Korean, they expertly introduce the content, features, and value of Dunhuang cave art to domestic and international visitors.
Since its official opening in 1979, the Mogao Caves have welcomed over 22 million visitors from more than 100 countries and regions. In addition, the Dunhuang Academy has organized over 200 Dunhuang art exhibitions in 18 countries and regions, including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and France, as well as in 20 provinces and cities across China, sharing the artistic allure of Dunhuang culture with the world.
The Dunhuang Academy’s cultural heritage protection team has received numerous national honors. It was named a “Model of the Times” by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and honored as a “Touching Gansu · Pride of the Long People” collective by the Gansu Provincial Publicity Department. The academy’s protection team was also awarded the title of “National Outstanding Engineer Team.” The Dunhuang Academy has received the Gansu Provincial Government Quality Award, the China Quality Award, and the Award of Asian Quality Innovation. Honorary President Fan Jinshi was awarded the national honorary title of “Outstanding Contributor to Cultural Heritage Protection,” the title of “Reform Pioneer,” theHo Leung Ho Lee Foundation Science and Technology Award, and was named a “National Moral Model” and a “Touching China Person of the Year 2019.” UNESCO has presented the “Outstanding Contribution Award” to the Dunhuang Academy, Chang Shuhong, Duan Wenjie, and Fan Jinshi for their exceptional contributions.
