Both sites achieved UNESCO World Heritage status in 1987, and were among the first Chinese entries on the list.

When he visited the site in 2019, President Xi Jinping emphasized the importance of expanding the influence of the Mogao Caves through studies and conservation.

A comprehensive cooperation agreement was reached between the Palace Museum and Dunhuang Academy－the institution devoted to management and conservation of the Mogao Caves since its founding in 1944－and the exhibition is part of the collaborative project.

"In recent years, we've explored Dunhuang culture in a modern context," Su Bomin, director of the academy, said at Friday's opening ceremony of the exhibition. "Stories of Dunhuang can be better told if we introduce more creative ideas."