Experts on Dunhuang cultural relics have recently held a symposium to discuss further research on the region's ethical and religious heritage.

Located in northwest China's Gansu province, Dunhuang city once served as an important section of the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean Sea extending some 6,440 kilometers and linking China with the Roman Empire.

This was an area where many different ethnic groups lived together. In the nearby mountains, Buddhist shrines were constructed in caves, in which religious scriptures and manuscripts of different ethnic groups were stored, and wall paintings and sculptures were created and maintained.

The Dunhuang Research Institute has set up a specialized department last year in an effort to step up academic research and international exchanges in the field.