Digital efforts aim to help with preservation work

Visitors to the Mogao Caves, a complex of 492 grottoes in Dunhuang, Gansu province, may be able to immediately feel the prosperity of the ancient Silk Road after viewing the breathtaking Buddha images and frescoes.

The caves, which range from the fourth to the 14th century, are home to sculptures, murals and other relics placed there by Buddhist monks and pilgrims. The area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987, one of the earliest such sites in China.

Only 6,000 visitors a day are allowed to enter the Mogao Caves with guides, and the time they spend in the caves is limited to protect the treasures from the impact of temperature and humidity.