The ancient Chinese grottoes have long been widely acclaimed as treasures along the Silk Road, scattered across the country. But now, digital technology has brought these cultural heritage sites together in one place.

The first joint exhibition of China's three major grottoes, namely Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang, central China's Henan Province and Yungang Grottoes in Datong, north China's Shanxi Province, is currently underway in the city of Luoyang.

The exhibition breaks the space barrier of these immovable cultural relics and displays the exquisite carving and painting skills of the grottoes, their rich history as well as the protection of cultural heritage by making use of 3D printing, VR, and other digital technologies.

Professor Jia Zhuofei from Xi'an Jiaotong University said the digital technology has opened up a new field in the research and display of these cultural relics, allowing visitors to appreciate the unique charm of the ancient treasures.

"VR technology has made a major breakthrough in terms of displaying the destroyed grottoes," said Shi Jiazhen, head of the research institute of the Longmen Grottoes, referring to the virtual restoration of the destroyed Buddha statues. The VR display enables viewers to see the original look of the over 1,000-year-old figures.

Mogao Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, and Yungang Grottoes were listed as the UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1987, 2000, and 2001, respectively. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Longmen Grottoes being included in the list.

Co-hosted by the three grottoes sites' research institutes, the exhibition is held at Luoyang Museum and lasts for three months until January 18, 2021.

(Cover: An exhibition on China's three major grottoes is held at Luoyang Museum, Luoyang, central China's Henan Province, October 20, 2020. /CFP)