The grottoes are believed to date back 1,630 years. Inside the Mogao Grottoes are Buddhist statues, carvings, gilt and coloured frescoes, murals, and wall paintings. Among the surviving documents are musical scores, choreographic records, and astronomy and medical literature. Fortunately, dedicated preservation experts have worked hard to preserve the remaining treasures. The exhibition is made up of meticulous duplications of murals and scrolls, which were hand painted by artists over the last 60 years.
Many scholars stress that the copies alone are precious treasures.
The copies, bearing clearer lines and sharper colours than the frescoes, allow visitors and researchers to better appreciate the importance of the Mogao Grottoes.