Xi learns about protection, preservation of local cultural heritage in millennium-old grottoes

Restoration work is actively underway at the Maijishan Grottoes in northwest China's Gansu Province to protect and preserve local cultural heritage. Chinese President Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the city of Baoji in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the city of Tianshui in neighboring Gansu Province.

Xi visited the two cities from Tuesday afternoon to Wednesday morning.

In Tianshui, Xi went to the Fuxi Temple, the Maijishan Grottoes, and a local apple production base to learn about the protection and preservation of local cultural heritage and the development of the modern specialty fruit industry in mountainous areas.

Maijishan Grottoes is one of China's four largest Buddhist cave complexes, along with Mogao, Yungang and Longmen grottoes in Gansu, Shanxi and Henan provinces, respectively. Known as the "Oriental Sculpture Museum", the grottoes are world-famous for its exquisite clay sculpture art.

The grottoes are seated on a towering peak at 142 meters which resembles a stack of wheat, hence its name "Maijishan", which literally means "Wheat stack Mountain".

The grottoes have a history of more than 1,600 years and were originally built in the Later Qin era. Maijishan hosts over 221 grottoes, 10,600 Buddhist sculptures and over 1,000 square meters of murals, which is of great aesthetic value.

In 2014, the Maijishan Grottoes were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the "Silk Roads: The Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" site.

Due to natural humidity and erosion, cracks have appeared on some caves and some sculptures and murals are in a state of decay.

In recent years, local authorities have excelled in protecting, restoring, and preserving cultural relics in grottoes using scientific methods such as continuous reinforcement, restoration, seepage control, biological management, and digital documentation. They have also actively promoted the inheritance and innovation of traditional Chinese sculptures.

Xi learns about protection, preservation of local cultural heritage in millennium-old grottoes

The third part of China Media Group (CMG)'s Mid-Autumn Festival gala aired on Tuesday night blends traditional Chinese culture with international artistry in a diverse lineup, bringing the audience an unforgettable night of music performance and poetry recitation.

The annual gala broadcast, also known as "Qiuwan" in Chinese, was recorded in Shenyang City of northeast China's Liaoning Province, a 2,300-year-old city boasting three world cultural heritage sites and over 1,500 historical and cultural sites. The city is also one of the most well-known industrial cities in China.

Themed "Moon Bright", the third part of the grand gala features an array of classic songs, reunion-themed narratives, and touching performances. Highlights include a music adaptation of the famous Chinese poem Qing Ping Diao by Tang Dynasty Poet Li Bai (701-762), which captures the essence of ancient Chinese beauty and expression; and a middle-school chorus from the Macao Special Administrative Region, singing about their love for the country and hopes for a brighter future.

The third segment of the show also features celebrated French musician Richard Clayderman, who enchants the audience with his timeless A Comme Amour a breathtaking rendition of The Butterfly Lovers concerto. The concerto, inspired by the tragic love story of Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai, is a modern classic that intertwines Chinese folklore with romantic Western composition techniques.

The Mid-Autumn Festival is a traditional Chinese festival celebrated on the night when the moon reaches its fullest and brightest on the 15th day of the eighth month on the lunar calendar. This year, the day fell on Tuesday (Sept 17). During the festival, families reunite, admire the moon, share the traditional festive pastry of mooncakes and light up lanterns.

Part 3 of CMG Mid-Autumn Festival Gala showcases diverse lineup of performances