For centuries, Gansu was a vital corridor between China and Central Asia. The north-western province was a 16-hundred-kilometer section of the Silk Road. And with the first session of the Silk Road Dunhuang International Cultural Expo, the ancient city is also welcoming digital technology to facilitate local tourism.

Being a major stop on the ancient Silk Road, Dunhuang boasts the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Mogao Grottoes. To better protect the relics while allowing visitors to see the sculptures and frescos inside, a theater has been built to show 3-D movies of the grottoes.

This year's cultural expo in Dunhuang will cover three sectors. These are the culture of countries and regions, Chinese provinces and renowned enterprises along the Silk Road, and the guest country France.

Activities featuring Dunhuang frescoes, the Paris and Silk Road Fashion Week, and digital animation are expected to draw in the most visitors. 

Art of Dunhuang frescoes