AI breathes fresh life into Dunhuang, NPC deputy says

Artificial intelligence should empower the whole chain of cultural heritage protection, including the systematic protection of Buddhist murals and sculptures at the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu province, according to a national lawmaker.

Wang Wanfu, a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress and deputy director of the department of conservation research at the Dunhuang Academy, said that in the restoration process of Dunhuang murals, AI improves efficiency and detects deterioration early with its high precision and strong computing power.

He made the remarks on the sidelines of the fourth session of the 14th NPC in Beijing on Saturday.

Wang said the first step in protecting the Dunhuang murals involves monitoring the environment, including key indicators such as temperature and humidity.

"We need to survey and assess both their heritage value and current condition. The key question is whether the deterioration is active or stable. If it's active, we intervene with appropriate restoration materials and precise techniques," he said.

Wang added that AI plays a vital role in this process. "AI can analyze the temperature and humidity data and detect cracks or detachments in the murals by processing tens of thousands of high-definition photos. This allows early identification of potential risks and timely intervention before further deterioration occurs."

Wang cited the example of the restoration of a flying ribbon from the artwork of a Dunhuang apsara. He said that AI leveraged its computing capacity to analyze images featuring various styles across different periods and generated multiple restoration options.

The proposed options were then reviewed by archaeologists, art historians and mural painting restorers, who selected the optimal plan to ensure the best possible outcome, he added.

Wang said what matters most is preserving cultural connotation, adding that AI applications must be grounded in historical accuracy, with analysis based on images of the murals.

"It's remarkable to bring cultural relics to life with technology, but our ultimate goal is to ensure that they endure — passed down in their authentic and complete forms. We must not allow technologies to fragment or overinterpret our culture," he said.

The Dunhuang Academy has developed core technologies for the conservation of ancient murals, sculptures and grotto temples. These technologies have been applied in many cultural heritage sites across China, providing valuable experience for other countries.

The academy is currently working with Kyrgyzstan to establish the China-Kyrgyzstan "One Belt, One Road" joint laboratory for cultural heritage protection.

Wang said the joint laboratory will serve as a platform for the academy to introduce its heritage conservation technologies to Central Asia and carry out systematic protection and restoration of local heritage sites.

He noted that the number of institutions available for cultural heritage protection and management is insufficient, and the structure of the talent pool and the level of professional expertise are still not able to meet the demands of the sector.

He added that relevant departments, such as the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security and the National Cultural Heritage Administration, should work together to improve the talent development system for cultural heritage conservation by strengthening policy support, mechanism innovation and interdepartmental coordination.

"We need to ensure the recognition of talent classification, professional title evaluation, career advancement opportunities, and remunerations. This will help to foster a social atmosphere that values knowledge, respects talent and upholds the spirit of craftsmanship, thereby attracting more talented people to cultural heritage conservation," he said.

"The area is becoming increasingly interdisciplinary, drawing on fields such as microbiology and botany. Whatever your background, if you're passionate about mural restoration, there's a place for you here. And with long-term dedication, meaningful results can be well within reach," he added.

Wang noted that cultural heritage management faces two major challenges — low spatial positioning accuracy for immovable cultural relics and an overwhelming volume of movable relics to document.

He suggested issuing digital identity cards for both immovable and movable cultural relics, based on the Beidou Navigation Satellite System's high-precision positioning. This would enable more precise, intelligent and integrated protection of cultural relics, he said.

Hu Yumeng contributed to this story.