The Dunhuang Forum, which focuses on Dunhuang studies under the Belt and Road Initiative, was held on Sept 24 at the Dunhuang International Convention & Exhibition Center as one of the most important events of the 5th Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo and the 10th Dunhuang Tour-Silk Road International Tourism Festival, which lasted from Sept 24 to 26.

Experts and scholars from Peking University, Lanzhou University, the Chinese Academy of Cultural Heritage, and the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences shared their latest research at the forum.

Rong Xinjiang, a professor from Peking University, gave a speech titled "Colorful Pictures of the Silk Road from Dunhuang Manuscripts".

Zhao Shengliang, director of the Dunhuang Academy, gave a speech entitled "Dunhuang Art and Spirit of Traditional Chinese Painting".

Lasting for three days, more than 40 experts and scholars specializing in Dunhuang studies and Silk Road studies shared their latest research and academic insights on topics such as the study of the history and culture of the Silk Road, a review and summary of the history of international Dunhuang studies in the past century, a study of the art of Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang, and a study of art research on ethnic groups. They also visited the Mogao Grottoes, Yulin Grottoes, and the Suoyang City Ruins.

The forum was hosted by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People's Republic of China and Gansu Provincial Government, organized by the Gansu Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau and Dunhuang Academy, and supported by the China Dunhuang Grottoes Conservation Research Foundation.