(Yicai) Dec. 30 -- Beauty of Dunhuang, a commonweal project launched by Shanghai Orient Securities' Xindeyizhang Public Welfare Foundation with Dunhuang Academy and Yicai Media Group, has been paying respect to the protectors of the grottoes in the Chinese city of Dunhuang in an innovative way since 2016.

Under the guidance of the Dunhuang Academy, the project produces promotional videos from different perspectives, guiding the public to appreciate the charm of its grottoes through various channels, including forums and exhibitions.

In the project's first season, "Sunset Glow in Mogao," more than 2,000 clay paintings were made exactly like the Dunhuang frescoes in nine months. The works were collected into a short animation that tells the encouraging story of Xuanzang, paying respect to the painter from a thousand years ago and conveying the spirit of perseverance and ingenuity to modern people.

In the second season, "The Gentle Backbone," the project went to the restorers and copyists from the Dunhuang Academy and interpreted their gentle but firm qualities through a documentary and a public show inspired by the grottoes. 

The third season, "The Spirit of Yulin," focused on the Yulin Grottoes and its tour guides, turning their commentaries into a mobile visual language.

The fourth season, "Taste of the Four Seasons," consisted of a documentary about the stories of protectors from the Dunhuang Academy and a dining menu inspired by their tales. The documentary covered the Mogao, Yulin, West Thousand-Buddha, Bingling Temple, and Maiji Mountain Grottoes, revealing the touching stories of guardians who have made everlasting cultural legacies.

In the fifth season, "Meeting Friends on The Silk Road," an original nursery rhyme "Our Dunhuang" was created to pay tribute to the world's cultural heritage and its local residents. Focusing on the new generation, the rhyme used children's voices to celebrate the inclusiveness and prosperity of the Silk Road and pass on the long history and moving stories of the Chinese nation.

In cooperation with the Dunhuang Academy, the project traveled from Mogao Grottoes to Yulin Grottoes, from Bingling Temple Grottoes to Maiji Mountain Grottoes, from West Thousand-Buddha Grottoes to North Grottoes Temple, to see how the institute has consistently presented the aesthetics of ancient China with professional strength. The beauty of Dunhuang has been recorded in many academic works, reaching tourists from all around the world.

The project tries to integrate Dunhuang's art into the lifestyle of modern people. It aims to make more people respect and love the traditional oriental culture and convey valuable qualities and spirit.

Editor: Martin Kadiev