Along the ancient Silk Road, linking China with Central Asia, the Mediterranean and the wider European world, lies Dunhuang, a vital cultural crossroads where the East meets the West. Centuries of exchange along this route gave rise to an extraordinary artistic legacy: the Mogao Caves, now a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The murals of the Mogao Caves preserve the work of generations of artists over a period of more than a thousand years. While centered on Buddhist narratives and figures, they also record the social life, customs and artistic sensibilities of their time. Among the recurring motifs depicted in these murals is the Huxuan dance, or whirling dance. Introduced through exchanges with Central Asia and flourishing during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the Huxuan dance embodied the period's openness and cultural integration. Defined by expansive gestures, flowing costumes and dynamic movement, it continues to inspire artists today.

In contemporary reinterpretations, dancers bring the Huxuan dance from the cave walls to the stage. Drawing directly from the murals, they recreate the intricate costumes and revive the distinctive movements depicted in the paintings, most notably the swift, powerful and continuous spins. Featuring Dunhuang's representative colors – burnt red, stone green and lapis lazuli blue – and adorned with countless silk strings as a visual metaphor for the Silk Road, these performances evoke the enduring legacy of cultural exchange.

(Photos show a dancer recreating the Huxuan dance, wearing clothes inspired by the Dunhuang murals. /CGTN)