Tianlongshan Grottoes digital tour heads to Egypt

An Egyptian inspects a replica of a cultural relic from Taiyuan at the international tour exhibition of the Tianlongshan Grottoes digital restoration in Cairo. [Photo/Taiyuan Evening News] 

A digital exhibition focusing on the Buddhist artifacts of China's Tianlongshan Grottoes opened in Cairo, Egypt on Sept 23. 

The show is jointly organized by the Taiyuan cultural relics bureau and the Cairo Chinese Cultural Center. 

The grottoes located in Taiyuan, the capital of North China's Shanxi province, include 25 caves filled with hundreds of Buddhist statues and relics. Construction on them began during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534) and lasted for five dynasties, representing the peak of grotto art in ancient China.

Using immersive cinema screens, holographic imaging, and other cutting-edge technologies, the exhibition digitally reproduces over 100 Tianlongshan Buddhist statues that have been scattered among nine countries and nearly 30 museums. 

The exhibition includes replicas of other cultural relics from Taiyuan, giving Egyptians the opportunity to learn more about both the Tianlongshan Grottoes and the city.

Egyptians tour the Tianlongshan Grottoes digital restoration exhibition in Cairo. [Photo/Taiyuan Evening News] 

Maissara Abd Allah Hussein, deputy director for antiquities at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, echoed similar sentiments by saying the exhibits provide a valuable opportunity for Egyptians to deepen their understanding of Chinese culture. 

The digital restoration of the Tianlongshan Grottoes presents the geography, historical sites, and humanities in a well-crafted manner. It also showcases China's advanced practices in using modern technology to restore and protect historical sites, which the country hopes to share with the world. 

Zhang Chaoyang, minister counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Egypt, said the exhibition showcases the power of artistic exchanges while promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and Egyptian people.

Egyptians tour the Tianlongshan Grottoes digital restoration exhibition in Cairo. [Photo/Taiyuan Evening News] 

Over 70 people, including experts and scholars in the field of cultural relics and cultural conservation from both China and Egypt, attended the opening ceremony of the exhibition.

During this event, the Taiyuan Institute of Cultural Relics Protection and the Giza Pyramids Management Office reached a friendly strategic cooperation agreement.