The world's first exhibition on Tibetan culture along the ancient Silk Road is set to open on July 2 in the Dunhuang Mogao Grottoes, according to the Dunhuang Academy.  

Dunhuang is an oasis surrounded by desert and gravel in northwestern China. It served as an important hub along the Silk Road, which was an ancient network of trade routes linking the regions of the ancient world in commerce between 130 BC -1453 AD.

During the period of the Tibetan Tubo Kingdom (7th – 9th century), the cultural integration in Dunhuang reached a peak.  

The exhibition, entitled "Cultural Exchange Along the Silk Road – Masterpieces of the Tubo Period," will present the art and cultural achievements along the route over that part of history.  

The exhibition will be divided into seven sections, including "Prehistoric Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," "Tubo aristocratic dress" and "Development of Buddhism in Tubo." 

More than 120 artifacts, ranging from silk fabrics, royal crowns to articles for daily use will be presented. Museums and art foundations from China, the U.S., Switzerland, Japan and Russia all contribute to the exhibition. Many of the exhibits will be put on display for the first time in China. 

Among the exhibits, two pieces of hanging brocades are the most impressive. The two artifacts represent the highest level of weaving technique along the Silk Road cultures at that period, according to the Dunhuang Academy.

For quite a long time, the study of the material culture along the Silk Road doesn't touch on much on the Tibetan civilization. The exhibition marks the first time for this part of culture to be showcased in public. 

"I hope this exhibition will bring us an extraordinary cultural experience," said Wang Xudong, former curator of the Dunhuang Academy.

The exhibition is organized by Dunhuang Academy and the Pritzker Foundation. It'll last 110 days, ending on October 22.

"I believe through this exhibition, we'll further understand the charm of diversity of civilization. Only by embracing different cultures can we have a colorful world," said Wang,  who now is the curator of the Palace Museum.

(Cover photo by Liu Shaozhen)