The Dunhuang Grottoes include the Mogao, Yulin, and West Qianfo (West Thousand Buddha) grottoes ... 45,000 square meters of murals 2,415 painted statues, and five wooden structures.

Dunhuang, in northwest China's Gansu province, is known for the Mogao Caves, which house the finest Buddha art in China dating back to the 4th century. It was a key stop on the Silk Road in the past.

The glorious paintings and statues of the Dunhuang caves have long attracted visitors from around the world. But tourism is doing more harm than good to these extremely fragile works of art.

The murals of the Mogao Caves, the nearby Yulin Caves and Western Thousand-Buddha Caves, all with 1,000 years of history, exceed 50,000 square meters. Shi Dunyu, 72-year-old expert on Dunhuang ...