The First Sight of Dunhuang, a new book of 112 restored mural artworks of the Mogao Caves in Dunhuang, Gansu province, and nearby Yulin Caves. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

A new book showcasing 112 restored mural artworks of Dunhuang, Gansu province, has become not only a captivating introduction to the city's Mogao Caves and the Yulin Caves in neighboring Guazhou county but also a faithful recollection of two generations of the Shi family's efforts in preserving and promoting the art.

The First Sight of Dunhuang published by the CITIC Press Group features facsimiles of Shi Dunyu, a 72-year-old expert on Dunhuang murals, and her late parents Shi Weixiang and Ouyang Lin, who joined the Mogao Caves conservation shortly after the founding of the Dunhuang Academy in 1944.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mogao Caves are home to 45,000 square meters of murals and more than 2,400 painted sculptures housed in 735 caves built from the 4th to 14th centuries. The murals of the Mogao Caves, the nearby Yulin Caves and Western Thousand-Buddha Caves, all with 1,000 years of history, exceed 50,000 square meters.