千年莫高窟

安徽 錢時建

The Mogao Caves are remote in Dunhuang City,Gansu Province. Located in the Gobi Desert, they are most famous for their exquisite frescoes(壁畫). Dunhuang, as its exotic (奇異的) name suggests, represents a fascinating dream of the romance of the ancient Silk Road. As a city with fewer than 200,000 regular residents, Dunhuang attracted more than 13 million tourists in 2019. It is clearly a popular destination.

Persistence may be a key word for those staff members working to protect the Mogao Caves. Many of them have displayed the “Mogao Spirit” in different facets, including Li Yunhe, 88, who devoted his life to restoring the frescoes. He was not alone. A group of workers have spent decades growing grass that slows down sand erosion in the caves.

Glory Is Back, a reality show, features the present and past of Gansu Province's city of Dunhuang, the Gobi Desert, the Mogao Caves, as well as its people. From the show, viewers began to learn and understand how history could develop the character of a city, and how it also deeply influenced its local people. For example, generations of students in Dunhuang have been doing a set of unique morning exercises on their sports grounds which featured movement that was inspired by the frescoes. “We want to reflect a panorama (全景) of Dunhuang,” Li says. “Everyone can find something they would like to see of the place.”

The reality show aims to explain the caves in easily understandable ways, covering a range of aspects, such as flying apsaras, hero sagas and the precious historical manuscripts. Folklore (民俗),food, sports and some other areas are also covered in the program.

“It's difficult to connect Dunhuang with fashion before you go there,” Li says. “But, as you dig deeper, you'll discover something fashionable from traditional beauty, even in today's aesthetics. That is the meaning of exploration.” He explains, “When viewers see the caves again and again, following the experts and completing one mission after another, their knowledge will grow.” It is hoped that through this process, more and more people will become interested in the culture and history of the mysterious city.

“It's like planting a seed of curiosity among those young people who have never been to Dunhuang,” he says. “They can go elsewhere to look for serious documentaries.”

What is important for those staff members working to protect the Mogao Caves?