International experts and scholars convened to discuss cultural heritage conservation and innovative inheritance at the 2025 Grotto Temple Protection and Inheritance Academic Symposium on Sunday in Datong, Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Experts and scholars from China, Japan, Italy, and other countries convened on topics of conservation and the innovative inheritance of cultural heritage at the 2025 Grotto Temple Protection and Inheritance Academic Symposium on Sunday in Datong, Shanxi province.

Shanxi is considered one of the birthplaces of Chinese civilization. It is home to many grotto temples.

The Yungang Grottoes in Datong are a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site with 45 caves and 51,000 statues dating back 1,500 years.

Wang Zhenhua, deputy director of the Shanxi Cultural Relics Bureau, said significant achievements have been made in protecting, researching, and utilizing the site. Every step has embodied the efforts of countless cultural relic workers, from the research and application of new materials for cultural relics protection to the active exploration of digital conservation.

In the last five years, the study of Yungangology has improved the multidisciplinary excavation at the Yungang site, showcasing its cultural and artistic connotations and expanding its academic influence.

However, Wang noted that challenges remain. Weathering and erosion underline the need to strengthen innovation and utilize protective technology to preserve the grottoes.

Tourists visit the Yungang Grottoes, a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site in Datong, Shanxi province. [Photo by Zhu Xingxin/chinadaily.com.cn]

Hang Kan, director of the Yungang Research Institute, highlighted recent preservation achievements. Caves 1-3 have been drained and reinforced, as have the risky rock formations around the Arhat Hall. The hall's colored sculptures and murals are under conservation efforts.

Hang added that the institute has digitized two-thirds of the grottoes. Cave 13 has been digitally reconstructed using high-precision 3D modeling.

Vignato Giuseppe, an Italian professor at Peking University's School of Archaeology and Museology, advocated for long-term international cooperation in grotto temple research. He proposed establishing new mechanisms for professional translation of core archaeological documents and launching an English digital platform for Chinese Buddhist grottoes to promote global academic exchange.