Dunhuang mural art performers dance with colored silk [Photo/chinanews.com.cn]

The Dunhuang mural dance draws its inspiration from the iconic figure of the flying Asara in the Mogao Grottoes - a 1,650-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site that is home to more than 2,000 sculptures and 45,000 square meters of murals.

The apsaras, angel-like beings known as feitian in Chinese, are a popular figure in Dunhuang frescos and a symbol of the historic Silk Road oasis of Dunhuang in Gansu province.

The dance is acclaimed for its graceful gestures, which require brief bursts of strength and good balance. Performers wearing unique headdresses and costumes often use musical instruments such as pipa and drums, weapons, and colored silks as their props.