International experts discuss grotto conservation in Shanxi

Experts and scholars from China, Japan, Italy, and other countries convened on topics of conservation and the innovative inheritance of cultural heritage at the 2025 Grotto Temple Protection and Inheritance Academic Symposium on Sunday in Datong, Shanxi province.

Shanxi is considered one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. It is home to many grotto temples.

The Yungang Grottoes in Datong are a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site with 45 caves and 51,000 statues dating back 1,500 years.

Wang Zhenhua, deputy director of the Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau, said significant achievements have been made in protecting, researching, and utilizing the site. Every step has embodied the efforts of countless cultural relic workers, from the research and application of new materials for cultural relics protection to the active exploration of digital conservation.

In the last five years, the study of Yungangology has improved the multidisciplinary excavation at the Yungang site, showcasing its cultural and artistic connotations and expanding its academic influence.

However, Wang noted that challenges remain. Weathering and erosion underline the need to strengthen innovation and utilize protective technology to preserve the grottoes.