Since the first library cave at Mogao Grottoes near Dunhuang of Northwest China's Gansu province was discovered in 1900, academic study of the ancient location hasn't stopped.

Carved into cliffs above the Daquan River, the 492 grottoes southeast of Dunhuang comprise the world's largest, longest and most richly endowed treasure trove of Buddhist art. Designated a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, it houses around 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,000 painted sculptures.

Researchers with Dunhuang Academy are revealing the splendid history of the site to the rest of the world by unearthing numerous precious cultural relics, including social and historical documents, artworks and everyday objects.

The academy's institute of archaeology has conducted surveys and excavations around the Mogao cliffs and along the Daquan River to understand the different functional locations and spaces within the grottoes, such as places for worship, daily living and burials. "This work is aimed at helping people gain a better understanding of how Buddhist practitioners at that time conducted activities within the grottoes and will also shed light on the natural and cultural environment," said Zhang Xiaogang, vice-president of the academy and director of the institute.

The academy has become a model for the protection of world cultural heritage and a bench mark for Dunhuang studies, and in the words of academy president Su Bomin: "The protection of cave relics is an ongoing and endless endeavor." After more than 70 years of operation, Dunhuang Academy has grown from four members to a team of more than 200, becoming the largest integrated team in China conducting research, design, and construction projects for the protection of cultural relics, added Su.

The academy is striving to introduce digitization to relic protection to ensure the permanent preservation and sustainable use of the Dunhuang murals and sculptures. Over the years a significant number of murals in Mogao Grottoes were exposed to the elements, resulting in fading and a deteriorated overall appearance. But Dunhuang Academy has developed scientific digital technology, including 14 standards and specifications, to ensure preservation of murals and color sculptures.

In 2016, the academy launched the "Digital Dunhuang" platform, providing high-definition digital content and panoramic tours of 30 classic grottoes to global viewers. To date, the platform has collected 290 caves, produced panoramic virtual tours of 172 and conducted spatial structure scanning of 206. As well, 44 three-dimensional sculptures and digitized historical archival films with a total of 42,134 images have been achieved.

As of 2022, the online platform had attracted visitors from 78 countries and regions worldwide, with a total of over 20 million visits.

The academy launched the world's first blockchain-based open sharing platform for digital cultural heritage the same year, followed in 2023 by the"Digital Scripture Cave," combining research achievements in Dunhuang studies with game technology.

Su said the academy is currently collaborating with countries such as the United Kingdom and Russia to achieve digital resource sharing and promote the digital return of Dunhuang cultural relics from overseas.