The ancient frescos and grottos require more protection against environment factors and human activities, said experts at a recent international conference.
A special research center should be set up to develop fresco protection materials and cultivate more professionals in this field, according to experts attending an international conference on the conservation of grotto sites, which was held in Dunhuang City of northwest China's Gansu Province.
A large number of frescos need to be repaired as they show various "disease" symptoms such as getting crisp, losing colors orbulging from the wall bodies due to aging and the works' fragile nature, said Li Zuixiong, deputy director of the Dunhuang Academy in Dunhuang City.
Painted on walls in grottoes and monasteries across the country, Chinese frescoes mainly carry Buddhist figures. Especially, the ancient Silk Road is home to over 600 grottoes. The most renowned site, Mogao Grottoes, boasts over 70,000 square meters of mural paintings.
But Mogao Grottoes, surrounded by desert and Gobi, are constantly plagued by dry weather, strong gales and sand storms that threaten the grottoes and the heritage inside.
China started to protect the grottoes from wind and sand in 1944. Since 1990, the country has carried out several tests, introduced state-of-the-art technologies and joined hands with international organizations to curb sand storms in the region.
Currently, Dunhuang Academy takes the lead in Chinese fresco protection and has restored 3,000 square meters of mural paintings in Dunhuang grottoes. Experts at the academy are also invited to repair frescoes at many monasteries and grottoes across the country, including the renowned Potala Palace, Sagya Lamasery and Norbuglinkha, also known as the Jewel Park, in Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region.
However, China still lags behind other countries in fresco protection, since many technological difficulties remain unsolved and the relics departments are not so well equipped, Li said.
(Xinhua News Agency July 8, 2004)
