The Mogao Grottoes, also known as the Thousand Buddha Grottoes, in Dunhuang, Northwest China’s Gansu Province Photo: VCG

There is no "increasing humidity, mountain torrents or cave collapses" in the Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Northwest China's Gansu Province, Deng Chao, an official with National Cultural Heritage Administration said at a press briefing on Friday, in response to media reports saying that the world heritage has been impacted by climate change.

The Mogao Grottoes is located in an arid area of northwestern China, a landscape sensitive to climate change. The Dunhuang Academy has been paying close attention to monitoring and studying the impact of changing weather in the region.

More than 30 years of data shows that average annual rainfall in the area where the Mogao Grottoes are located is about 40 millimeters, mainly coming in small and moderate rainfalls, while heavy rain only occurred six times, Deng said. "There has been no cave collapse in recent decades," Deng noted.

The administration has approved 51 projects related to Mogao Grottoes protection including cliff reinforcement, environmental conservation in the past decade. So far, Dunhuang Academy has completed the overall protection and renovation of 86 caves, forming a set of key technology systems covering reinforcement, comprehensive protection of wind and sand disasters, and monitoring and early warning, according to Deng.

A national engineering technology research center for the protection of ancient frescoes and soil sites has also been established.

The administration has implemented measures to deal with the impact brought by climate change. In order to prevent rainwater seeping into the caves, protection projects have been taken to slow down the influence of climate change on the environment of the caves such as the reinforcement and the installation of cave doors, according to the official.

On the other hand, comprehensive monitoring has been carried out measuring temperature and humidity changes in the caves, and management will be implemented dynamically, according to Deng. The administration is also working with meteorological departments to establish a weather warning system to adopt precautious in a timely manner.

Dunhuang is home to the Mogao Grottoes which includes a vast collection of rare Buddhist artworks.

Global Times