Cultural heritage conservators at the 1,600-year-old Maijishan Grottoes in northwest China say they were energized by President Xi Jinping's visit on Wednesday, where he emphasized the importance of preserving traditional culture and urged the use of innovative methods to safeguard the historic site for future generations.
Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, inspected the Maijishan Grottoes in Gansu Province as part of his tour through the northwestern provinces of Shaanxi and Gansu.
One of China's four largest Buddhist cave complexes -- along with Mogao, also in Gansu, Yungang in Shanxi Province and Longmen in Henan Province -- Maijishan is famous for its exquisite clay sculptures, earning it the title "sculpture museum of the East."
The grottoes are perched on a mountain resembling a stack of wheat, giving them the name "Maijishan," which means "Wheat Stack Mountain" in Chinese.
The site, built during the Later Qin era over 1,600 years ago, contains 221 grottoes, 10,600 Buddhist sculptures, and over 1,000 square meters of murals, making it a significant cultural and artistic treasure.
In recent years, increased national support has enabled local authorities to develop comprehensive preservation strategies, combining restoration and protection measures using digital technologies to safeguard these marvels of traditional Chinese sculpture.
"The Maijishan Grottoes are often called the 'sculpture museum of the East' because of their incredibly detailed sculptures, which are rare not just in China, but globally. The General Secretary took a close look and emphasized the need for stronger efforts in cultural heritage conservation, aiming to inspire broader preservation work across the country," said Zhao Shengliang, director of Dunhuang Academy, which manages the Maijishan Grottoes.
Ma Qian, director of the Preservation Research Office at Maijishan Grottoes Art Research Institute, was struck by Xi's approachable demeanor.
"What struck me the most was how approachable the General Secretary was to us, the grassroots cultural heritage conservators. The questions he asked were also very professional," Ma said.
"For the General Secretary to notice our daily work made us feel incredibly proud and honored," said Xu Bokai, deputy director at the same institute.
In 2014, the Maijishan Grottoes were listed as a UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the "Silk Roads: The Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" site. However, the site has faced challenges such as natural humidity and erosion, which have led to cracks in the caves and deterioration in some sculptures and murals.
Local conservators have used methods including reinforcement, seepage control, biological management and digital documentation to protect these relics.
"In the past five years, we've achieved major milestones in both protection and research. We've now installed comprehensive monitoring systems inside and outside the grottoes. This allows us to pull up real-time data from any cave in Maijishan to assess its preservation status," Zhao explained.
Conservation specialist Fu Youxu said he had seen a growing nationwide focus on cultural heritage protection.
"As our country continues to develop rapidly, there's increasing attention on cultural heritage conservation, which helps us extend the life of sculptures and murals. Our goal is to contribute as much as we can to the preservation of China's rich and beautiful traditional culture," Fu said.
Tourists visiting the site on Wednesday were surprised by Xi's presence.
"I came today to tour and visit our historical and cultural heritage site, but I never expected to see the General Secretary. It was such a pleasant surprise!" said Fang Yan, a tourist from Beijing.
"The General Secretary was pleased to see so many visitors from across the country. He hopes people can take something meaningful away from their visit, learning about China's exceptional traditional culture while boosting their sense of cultural confidence," Zhao added.
"We must continue doing our best to protect these historical and cultural treasures, so that the rich traditional culture they hold can be showcased, their new charm can shine through, and future generations can experience and appreciate them," said Xu.
Xi's visit left a lasting impression on local conservators, who are determined to follow his guidance and take on the responsibility of preserving, restoring, and promoting China's outstanding traditional culture.
"The General Secretary's concern for our work in cultural heritage conservation inspires us to keep improving. We also hope to bring more young people into our ranks, so that together we can better safeguard our country's outstanding traditional culture," Zhao said.
Lu Na, a tour guide at the grottoes, echoed the sentiments of other conservators on Xi's remarks: "As a tour guide, I felt deeply encouraged by the General Secretary's words today. Going forward, I'll work even harder to promote China's traditional culture, boosting national pride and cultural confidence."
Xi's visit sparks new drive to protect China’s cultural treasures
