Shan Hai You Qing, Desert Echoes丨Liaoning Museum's Dunhuang Special Exhibition

Organizers: Liaoning Provincial Museum, Dunhuang Academy
⏰ Exhibition Dates: May 18, 2025 - August 18, 2025
Exhibition Venue: Liaoning Museum, 3rd Floor, Halls 21 and 22
💡 Highlights: A total of 268 exhibits, including 110 rare manuscripts from the Dunhuang Library Cave collected in the Liaoning region, as well as Li Yu's manuscripts, Wu Mi Feng's and Zhou Shaomiao's reproductions of Dunhuang murals. Over 90% of these items are being displayed for the first time.

✅ Liaoning Museum Visitor Information
⏰ Hours: Tuesday to Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
📅 Admission: No reservation required for entry
♻️ Services at the 1st Floor Visitor Center: Collect commemorative tickets, borrow power banks, rent audio guides, and book guided tours

Exhibition Overview
The exhibition is divided into four sections: "The History and Culture of Dunhuang," "Dunhuang Cave Art," "Dunhuang in Liaoning," and "Preservation and Heritage." It provides a comprehensive exploration of Dunhuang culture from historical, artistic, and cultural heritage perspectives, offering an in-depth understanding of Dunhuang's past and present.

On the first floor, there are three caves that can only be viewed from the entrance. On the third floor, there are two exhibition halls. One hall primarily features transformation tableaux, along with statues of Buddha, Manjushri, Samantabhadra, and others. The other hall mainly displays scriptures, calligraphy, scrolls, and detailed images of cave interiors. There is also a small digital exhibition area that provides detailed introductions to musical instruments, clothing, utensils, and more—definitely worth a visit!

Recommendation: Book a guided tour for an immersive experience.

Key Exhibits:
1. "Shengli Stele": Erected in the first year of the Tang Wu Zhou Shengli era, this stele commemorates the construction of Mogao Cave 332. It records the genealogy of the Li family, the founding and construction of Mogao Caves, and confirms the caves' excavation timeline.
2. Mogao Caves Six-Syllable Mantra Stele: Unearthed in Mogao Cave 61, this Yuan Dynasty stele features a seated Avalokiteshvara with four arms, surrounded by the six-syllable mantra inscribed in Sanskrit, Tibetan, Chinese, and three other languages. It reflects the cultural exchanges and integration among various ethnic groups in Dunhuang during the Yuan Dynasty.
3. Reversed Pipa: From the "Musical Entertainment Scene" in Mogao Cave 112, part of the "Western Pure Land Transformation" mural. This mid-Tang Dynasty artwork captures the dynamic moment of a celestial musician performing the "reversed pipa" technique while dancing to heavenly music.