Dunhuang international cultural expo aims to relive Silk Road spirit

For US fiddler Kyle Dillingham, the more than 20-hour journey from the United States to Gansu province in China is a familiar one. Having visited China more than a dozen times, he has come to regard the country as his "second home".

Now, he is bringing that musical connection to Dunhuang once again, where he is set to perform with his folk band, Horseshoe Road, at the 9th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo.

"A beautiful melody doesn't need a passport," Dillingham said. "When we play a song like Jasmine Flower or The Moon Represents My Heart, we don't have to explain the music to our audiences. They already understand it emotionally." He said music can build connections that transcend language and cultural differences.

His experience reflects the broader theme of this year's expo, which opened on Tuesday in Dunhuang under the theme "Strengthening Cultural Exchanges and Promoting Mutual Learning Among Civilizations". The three-day event has brought together over 1,000 guests, including representatives from more than 50 countries and regions, as well as international organizations such as UNESCO and the World Intellectual Property Organization.

More than 1,000 years ago, Dunhuang was a major crossroads of the ancient Silk Road, where merchants, pilgrims, scholars and artists brought together different beliefs, languages and artistic traditions. These encounters left a rich cultural legacy that continues to offer lessons for the world today.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Daren Tang, director-general of WIPO, said Dunhuang's history demonstrated how cultural exchange could inspire new ideas and creativity. The Mogao Caves and the city's collection of historical manuscripts, which includes more than 40 languages and scripts, bear witness to this interaction.

"Culture does not grow in isolation, but through exchange, new ideas and creativity," Tang said.

For Shahbaz Khan, director and representative of UNESCO's Regional Office in East Asia, Dunhuang's history has particular relevance amid rising geopolitical tensions and regional conflicts.

"Drawing on the Dunhuang experience and carrying forward the Silk Road spirit can open up an effective pathway toward dialogue, mutual understanding and peace," he said.

He also noted that UNESCO would continue supporting Gansu in cultural heritage conservation and sustainable use, including efforts to strengthen the Dunhuang Academy's role in heritage protection and research.

The legacy of exchange is also reflected in contemporary cooperation.

Sun Weidong, secretary-general of the Secretariat of the China-Central Asia Mechanism, said cultural ties between China and Central Asian countries could be traced back more than 2,000 years.

Today, cooperation encompasses joint archaeological work, heritage restoration, museum exhibitions and educational exchanges, alongside expanding economic ties. Trade between China and Central Asian countries exceeded $100 billion in 2025, while China's accumulated investment in the region surpassed $30 billion, he said.

Connections between distant cultures are also being explored through heritage and tourism.

Cambodian Tourism Minister Huot Hak highlighted the historical links between the Mogao Caves and Cambodia's Angkor Wat, recalling how 13th-century Chinese traveler Zhou Daguan documented Cambodian life and social customs in his account A Record of Cambodia.

He described the work as "not only a valuable historical record, but also one of the earliest people-to-people links between Cambodia and China, bearing witness to the mutual understanding and learning between two ancient civilizations".

Huot said the Mogao Caves-Angkor Wat dialogue initiative offered an excellent starting point for cultural exchanges along the Silk Road, adding that the two countries had a solid foundation and great potential for cooperation in culture and tourism.

For Dillingham, cultural exchange is not simply about sharing one's own traditions, but also about taking home something learned from others. Playing Chinese melodies has encouraged him to listen differently and become more adventurous in his approach to the violin, he said.

He also sees opportunities for deeper exchanges between Oklahoma, his home state, and Gansu, which celebrated the 40th anniversary of their sister-state relationship in 2025. He hopes more students, musicians and educators will travel between the two places, experience each other's cultures and build friendships.

"Some of my most treasured experiences haven't necessarily happened on a stage, but through the friendships and personal connections I've made along the way," he said.

Since its launch in 2016, the expo has welcomed nearly 10,000 guests from more than 120 countries and regions. This year's program features 18 major activities across seven categories, including cultural exhibitions, artistic performances, investment promotion and tourism experiences. The 2026 Dunhuang Forum is also being held alongside the expo.

Contact the writers at huyumeng@chinadaily.com.cn