At the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, digital technology is reshaping how visitors engage with the ancient Buddhist art, offering an immersive journey spanning over a thousand years.

The Mogao Grottoes Digital Exhibition Center serves as a mandatory pre-visit orientation hub. There, visitors watch two films that present a panoramic view of the caves' history and artistic essence.

According to Lei Zhengguang, director of the Cultural Promotion Department of the Dunhuang Academy, this arrangement helps regulate visitor flow and create a more balanced touring experience, effectively balancing heritage preservation with public access. By watching the films beforehand, visitors gain valuable background knowledge, allowing them to spend less time inside the caves.

Digital experiences are also becoming more diverse. An exhibition based on Cave 285 provides a VR-powered immersive experience. Visitors wearing VR headsets can perceive the curved ceilings and mottled rock surfaces as if they are within arm's reach.

To ensure accuracy, the academy collaborated with Wuhan University to develop correction techniques that address geometric distortions from curved cave structures, using 3D scanning data for alignment. The upgraded equipment can capture cultural relic information at varied depths and merge them through post-processing.

Ding Xiaohong, deputy director of the academy's Digital Cultural Relics Research Institute, said that all digital presentations are grounded in rigorous Dunhuang studies, combining scientific precision with educational appeal.

Since the digital exhibition center opened in 2014, the academy has amassed high-definition mural images, 3D colored-sculpture models, and large-site scans. These resources not only support conservation and research but also fuel the development of cultural products and online exhibitions.