Mogao Caves joins VR show trend to enhance experience, improve preservation

Wearing virtual reality headsets and holding controllers, visitors at an immersive digital exhibition in Dunhuang, Gansu province, can explore a digital cave, admire murals up close in high definition and immerse themselves in the stories depicted in the artwork.

The digital re-creation is a life-size replica of Cave 285 of the Mogao Caves, known for housing one of China's most exquisite collections of Buddhist art. Constructed over 1,400 years ago, Cave 285 features a lavish display of Buddha statues and vibrant, imaginative mural paintings. It harmoniously blends various artistic styles inspired by both Chinese and foreign influences in its cave structure and mural content.

To better preserve the cultural relics inside, Cave 285 is rarely accessible to the public as a regular site. However, through the utilization of technologies such as virtual reality, augmented reality and game engines, visitors can enjoy a profound experience that is better than actually entering the real cave.