Road to recognition mapped for ancient route

Over the past three years, study tours have become the museum's largest source of growth, with more than 26,000 primary and secondary school students visiting.

The museum has also started 12 youth education programs at primary and secondary schools in Wuwei.

After visiting the museum, Tsechu, a first-year senior high school student at Lhasa Middle School in Xizang, said: "For me, the Liangzhou Talks were something I learned about in a textbook. Being able to come here in person, to the very place where the talks took place, has brought what I learned in the textbook to life."

Tsechu said that exchanging ideas with students from Wuwei No 1 Middle School was also inspiring. "We talked with each other and gained a deeper understanding of each other's cultures."

The museum has also welcomed a growing number of visitors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan over the past two years, staff members said.

Li Decheng, 60, a Mongolian and former deputy director of the China Tibetology Research Center, who also played a supportive role in Garwa's research, said the wisdom of the Liangzhou Talks in resolving differences through dialogue and peaceful means still resonates in China's philosophy.

shenwendi@chinadaily.com.cn