UNESCO awards Chinese archaeologist for outstanding contribution

Renowned Chinese archaeologist Fan Jinshi has been awarded by UNESCO on Thursday for her outstanding contribution in protection of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves.

The certificate of outstanding contribution was also given to Dunhuang Academy, Chang Shuhong, honorary president of the academy and Duan Wenjie, former president of the academy. 

The ceremony was held during the Sixth Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo, which was held in Dunhuang, Gansu province from Wednesday to Thursday. 

The Dunhuang Mogao Caves became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987. 

Born in 1938, Fan graduated from Peking University in 1963 and started work in Dunhuang. She has made protecting and researching the grottoes her lifelong passion. She is also the honorary president of Dunhuang Academy and has been dubbed the "daughter of Dunhuang".

Fan said the achievements made in protecting the grottoes could not be made without the support of the country, the help of experts and academics from home and abroad and the efforts of generations of people for more than 80 years.

More efforts are needed to continue to protect the grottoes and strike a balance of the protection, research and promotion, she said. 

There are 45,000 square meters of mural and more than 2,000 painted sculptures in the grottoes.