Young scholars unite to safeguard Silk Road heritage

LANZHOU — In a conference room in Dunhuang, a vital ancient Silk Road hub in Northwest China's Gansu province, a lecture explored China's various earthen heritage sites and the scientific study of traditional craftsmanship. As images of these relics flashed across the screen, Kyrgyz trainee Emirlan Myrzabekov captured them on his phone, while taking notes.

A heritage researcher, manager and educator at Kyrgyzstan's Sulaiman-Too National Historical and Archaeological Museum, Myrzabekov is visiting China for the first time as one of the 25 participants in the 2026 international training program on Silk Road heritage conservation.

Representing five countries, including China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, the participants are young scholars, researchers and technicians, with an average age of about 30, who are already working in or preparing to enter the field of cultural heritage conservation.

The 40-day program, which runs through Aug 21, covers topics including an overview of Silk Road heritage, laws and regulations, scientific analysis of traditional craftsmanship, mechanisms of heritage deterioration, monitoring and early-warning systems, core conservation technologies and standards, as well as field studies at major heritage sites along the Hexi Corridor.

Beyond classroom learning, the participants will conduct experiments and carry out on-site investigations at several heritage sites.

Just one week into the program, Myrzabekov says he has already gained valuable knowledge. The lectures combine theory with practical demonstrations of conservation techniques, offering insights he believes can be directly applied to his work in Kyrgyzstan.

During a recent visit to sections of the Great Wall in Dunhuang, he was particularly impressed by China's efforts to balance heritage conservation with tourism development. As Kyrgyzstan faces similar challenges in protecting historic sites amid rapid urban growth, he says China's experience offers valuable lessons.

Sulaiman-Too Mountain, where Myrzabekov works, was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2009. "Heritage of this kind requires extensive conservation work and international cooperation," he says, expressing hope for closer collaboration with Chinese heritage institutions.

For Abdulkhay Abduganiev, a 28-year-old doctoral student at Uzbekistan's Samarkand Institute of Archaeology, the program is also an opportunity to pursue his own research interests.

Abduganiev has long studied medieval Sogdian culture. He said that Uzbek historical records contain accounts of Sogdian people traveling to China during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), while Dunhuang manuscripts hold abundant materials on Sogdian history.

"This time, I hope to find opportunities to consult Chinese scholars on these subjects," he says.

Ancient Silk Road cities differ widely in form and historical significance, yet many face similar conservation challenges. In recent years, China and Central Asian countries have launched a range of collaborative initiatives covering heritage surveys, monitoring and preservation.

Their joint efforts yielded a landmark achievement in 2014, when a joint application by China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan led to the recognition of "The Silk Roads: The Routes Network of Chang'an-Tianshan Corridor" as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

The Dunhuang Academy further strengthened regional cooperation in 2017 by signing a memorandum of understanding with a cultural heritage institution in Kyrgyzstan. Since then, the partners have carried out joint field research and academic exchanges. Drawing on more than 80 years of conservation experience, the academy has developed expertise in preserving murals, cave temples, earthen sites and other rock-and-soil heritage, while also training Russian-speaking specialists to support cooperation with Central Asian countries.

A China-Kyrgyzstan Belt and Road joint laboratory on cultural heritage conservation was approved by China's Ministry of Science and Technology in 2025 to advance cooperation in heritage surveys, conservation technologies, professional training and academic exchanges.

Earlier this year, the laboratory opened a platform in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan's capital, focused on the ancient city of Suyab. The facility provides technical support ranging from rapid diagnosis and surveying to remote monitoring and early-warning systems.

Guo Qinglin, director of the Dunhuang Academy, notes that the roughly 200-square-meter facility is equipped with over 50 sets of professional instruments, while the academy dispatches two to three teams annually to collaborate with Kyrgyz researchers and conservators.

During the ongoing training in Dunhuang, Nazira Duishombekova, 26, deputy secretary-general of the joint laboratory from Kyrgyzstan, has been discussing conservation challenges at Suyab with Chinese researchers.

Duishombekova, who works for Kyrgyzstan's Ministry of Culture, Information and Youth Policy, says the country is home to numerous medieval sites but still lacks sufficient in-depth research and trained specialists in conservation, testing and long-term monitoring. She believes the long history of exchanges between the two countries provides a strong foundation for jointly protecting cultural heritage and developing future talent.

Among the Chinese experts she has met is Pei Qiangqiang, a Dunhuang Academy research fellow who has visited Kyrgyzstan seven times and helped establish the joint laboratory while taking part in conservation work at Suyab.

He believes bringing young professionals together enables them to compare conservation practices and challenges and explore shared solutions.

"Training professionals builds grassroots ties between China and Central Asia. It is a long-term commitment," Pei says.

XINHUA