Silk Road dance drama revives ancient Qiuci in Beijing

A particularly stunning moment comes during the "Kuqa Musicians' Heaven" segment, which draws inspiration from the murals in Cave 38 of the Kizil Grottoes. The Kizil Grottoes are a UNESCO World Heritage site in Aksu's Baicheng county and Cave 38 is often referred to as the "Musician's Choir Cave", as it features more than 20 musicians playing instruments like the pipa, xun and waist drums, and images of dancers performing. On stage, these figures come alive, blending music from traditional instruments such as the five-stringed pipa with the fluid movements of the dancers, making the ancient murals feel as though they have sprung to life.