The "Dunhuang Splendors Culture and Art Exhibition of Mogao Grottoes," billed as the largest and most comprehensive Dunhuang cultural and artistic showcase ever held in South China, officially opened on Saturday at Nanshan Museum in Nanshan District. The exhibition presents an unparalleled collection of Dunhuang relics, offering visitors a deep dive into the rich heritage of the Mogao Grottoes.
A visitor admires a recreated cave of Dunhuang Grottoes at the exhibition at Nanshan Museum. Photos from WeChat account "ShenzhenLOOK"
Located near Dunhuang in Northwest China's Gansu Province, the Mogao Grottoes — also known as the Caves of the Thousand Buddhas — are a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This ancient Buddhist complex, carved into cliffs along the Silk Road, features 492 decorated caves containing 45,000 square meters of murals and 2,000 painted sculptures dating from the 4th to the 14th century.
The Shenzhen exhibition showcases 205 precious relics, including six digitally recreated special caves, four replicated painted statues, over 60 reproduction murals, and more than 80 sets of rare original artifacts. Together, these exhibits offer an immersive glimpse into the enduring culture and timeless beauty of Dunhuang.
Highlights include the monumental 14-meter-long reclining clay Buddha from Cave 158 and the 3.34-meter-tall cross-legged Maitreya Bodhisattva statue from Cave 275. Due to their immense size, these statues were carefully transported to the second-floor exhibition hall using advanced lifting equipment and the coordinated effort of dozens of staff, then meticulously reassembled onsite. Other notable displays feature Cave 285, famed as a "Pantheon of Diverse Influences," Cave 320, known for its "most beautiful flying apsaras," Cave 17, regarded as a "key to unlocking medieval world history," and Cave 3, showcasing the intricately detailed "Thousand-Armed and Thousand-Eyed Guanyin."
A standout element of the exhibition is the faithful digital and physical restoration of six Mogao caves. This includes Caves 3 and 285, which are usually closed to the public, giving visitors a rare chance to experience their artworks. Cave 275 — the first Mogao cave to be fully digitally reproduced — is featured in this unprecedented digital format for the first time.
According to organizers, the artifacts and reproductions have been restored to nearly life-size scale, providing an authentic and engaging viewing experience.
To accommodate the massive and precious exhibits from Mogao Grottoes, the main entrance of the museum was temporarily removed on July 13. This was the first time since the museum's opening in 2018 that such an operation was undertaken to handle the monumental size of the main exhibits. (Claudia Wei)
Exhibits from the exhibition at Nanshan Museum.
Dates: Through Nov. 23 (closed on Mondays)match
Venue: Nanshan Museum, Nanshan District (南山博物馆)
Metro: Line 1 or 12 to Taoyuan Station (桃园站), Exit B
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