In pics: restoration of Xumishan Grottoes underway(1/11)

A cultural relics expert restores a mural at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

A cultural relics expert restores a mural at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

Cultural relics experts discuss restoration plans in the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

A cultural relics expert restores a mural at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A cultural relics expert restores a mural at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A cultural relics expert restores a mural at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A cultural relics expert restores a mural at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Cultural relics experts discuss restoration plans at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)

Aerial photo taken on April 27, 2020 shows the Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

A cultural relics expert restores a mural at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Wang Peng)

Cultural relics experts restore murals at the No. 48 grotto of Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 27, 2020. Cultural relics experts from across China have begun a restoration project on murals in the Xumishan Grottoes dating back over 1,500 years in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The restoration project started in early April and is the first such project to save and restore Xumishan Grottoes murals since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), according to the cultural relics management bureau of Xumishan Grottoes. The Xumishan Grottoes, which were initially built in the late period of the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534), have 162 caves and more than 1,000 statues and were listed as a key state-level cultural site in 1982. (Xinhua/Feng Kaihua)