Visitors try their hands at rolling stamp printing at the Dunhuang Press. [Photo/China News Service]

Dunhuang has created unique cultural spaces aimed at blending tradition with modern aesthetics and fostering a new "buddy socialization" trend among travelers.

These hubs, including Dunhuang Book Center, Dunhuang Press, Dunhuang Food Center, and others, have become the hottest attractions this tourism season.

The Dunhuang Book Center, resembling "Mogao Grottoes on paper", houses over 30,000 books about Dunhuang. Visitors can be seen reading together or copying murals.

Nearby, the Dunhuang Press displays more than 4,000 Dunhuang-themed stamps. Since September 2024, it has received over 100,000 visits, with 65 percent being young adults between 18 and 35. The interactive stamp-collecting activity extends visits and encourages face-to-face interaction.

The Dunhuang Food Center combines traditional dishes with local snacks, naturally promoting shared meals. Strangers often team up to sample more dishes, sometimes becoming travel companions.

In 2025, five such updated cultural spaces collectively received over 2 million visits.

An expert from Lanzhou University views this innovative approach as meaningful, as it uses popular formats to preserve cultural heritage while achieving sustainable market transformation.

Future plans include upgrading the Dunhuang Book Center into a Silk Road publishing center, introducing new themed celadon products, and launching the Dunhuang Wine Center.

Digital creations and immersive technology experiences will also be developed to deepen cultural engagement, especially among the youth.