A digital center to support the protection of ancient murals in the grottoes of Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, has been set up in the Dunhuang Research Institute.

 

Wang Xudong, deputy director of the institute, said the center will collect and store information about the murals in digital format, which can be displayed and which will help the repair process of the murals.

 

The institute recognizes the importance of the use of digital technologies in the protection of cultural relics, Wang said.

 

Dating from 336 AD, the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, also known as the Caves of 1,000 Buddhas, are a UNESCO world heritage site.

 

To date, a total of 735 caves and over 2,000 colored Buddha statues have been discovered and frescos on the inside wall cover an area of approximately 45,000 square meters.

 

The Mogao Grottoes are located on the eastern slope of Rattling Sand Mountain in the southeast of Dunhuang County in Gansu Province.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 11, 2006)