CCTV News: April 18 is International Monument and Site Day. Against the backdrop of frequent extreme weather and climate events, the Monument and Sites are facing the threat of meteorological disasters such as heavy rainfall, wind erosion, and lightning strikes. Taking Mogao Grottoes as an example, strong winds once carried yellow sand to erode the cliffs and eroded murals, and quicksand could even completely bury the caves on the bottom. Nowadays, the methods and means of protecting Mogao Grottoes are constantly being upgraded and improved.
Mogao Grottoes are located on the edge of the Gobi Desert and have been threatened by wind and sand for thousands of years. When the wind blows, the quicksand of Mingsha Mountain will fly down from the top of the cliff of Mogao Grottoes. When wind and sand and dust enter the cave, they will damage murals and colored sculptures, so wind and sand have always been one of the main factors that threaten the safety preservation of caves.
In order to solve the dangers of wind and sand, the Dunhuang Research Institute has worked hard and worked with experts and scholars from multiple institutions at home and abroad. Digging sand prevention trenches, building sand blocking wooden fences, and using chemical methods to fix sand... For more than half a century, protection workers have been constantly trying new ways to prevent and control sand damage. The history of wind and sand prevention and control of Mogao Grottoes is a "marathon" in which people in Mogao Grottoes fight against wind and sand.
