Home to the Mogao Caves
Often revered as the “Louvre of the East,” Dunhuang is a living testament to more than a millennium of Buddhist civilization and artistic heritage.
From the Sixteen Kingdoms period to the Yuan Dynasty, its 735 grottoes preserve over a thousand years of history. Within 45,000 square meters of exquisite murals and more than 2,000 painted sculptures, the artistic brilliance of bygone eras has been remarkably preserved.
It is a natural wonder where mountain springs and desert sands coexist in perfect harmony, where water and sand have endured side by side for centuries.
It is a shining jewel along the ancient Silk Road—a crossroads where Eastern and Western civilizations met, mingled, and flourished through centuries of cultural exchange.
It is perhaps the only place where you can experience both the poetic vastness of “lone smoke rising over the desert” and the timeless beauty of a “sanctuary of art.” From the Han Dynasty’s establishment of the frontier commanderies to the flourishing of the Sui and Tang Dynasties; from Tubo murals to Western Xia scriptures—four great civilizations converged, exchanged, and left their mark here.
This is where the camp is set: seven days and six nights in Dunhuang, at the Mogao Caves and in the Gobi where the earth for a mural ground is collected.
3 Core Highlights
01. Intangible Heritage · Building the Foundation
Sourcing the Materials Behind Dunhuang’s Murals
Venture deep into the Gobi Desert to collect authentic materials traditionally used in Dunhuang mural making, including Chengban Earth(Fine-grained River Silt) and five-coloured sand.
Follow traditional techniques of sifting, soaking, adding hemp fibres, and kneading to recreate the mural ground layer—the essential foundation beneath the artwork.
Work with your own hands to build the very foundation that has helped preserve Dunhuang’s murals for centuries. Through this process, discover the craftsmanship, material knowledge, and practical wisdom embedded in this intangible cultural heritage.
02. Mineral Pigment Grinding · The Colours of a Millennium
Discovering the Materials Behind Dunhuang’s Enduring Colours
Grind natural mineral pigments by hand and discover the traditional materials behind the distinctive colours of Dunhuang’s murals.
Experience the aesthetic philosophy of ancient craftsmen: “using stone as pigment, and earth as foundation.”
Go beyond simply seeing the colours—explore how natural minerals, traditional techniques, and artistic knowledge come together to create the enduring beauty of Dunhuang.
Experience intangible cultural heritage through the materials themselves, and discover how “the material itself becomes part of the culture.”
03. Full-Process Craftsmanship · A Living Heritage
From Earth to Artwork
From ground-layer preparation and line drawing to colour layering and shading, work under the guidance of professional instructors to experience the complete traditional mural-making process.
Step into the role of an apprentice and immerse yourself in the living tradition of Dunhuang mural craftsmanship, completing your own original Dunhuang-inspired artwork.
Each participant leaves with a finished mural of their own: a hand-made clay ground, painted with the mineral pigments they ground themselves.
7-DAY ITINERARY
DAY 1
Opening Ceremony · Hello, Dunhuang
Begin the journey with a meaningful opening ceremony.
Meet your fellow travel companions, receive your Art Discovery Kit, learn about the study tour objectives, and prepare for seven days of art, culture, and exploration in Dunhuang.
DAY 2
Earth Gathering · Chengban Earth Collection & Processing
Discovering the Earth Behind Dunhuang’s Murals
Take a small shovel and venture into the Gobi Desert to search for and collect Chengban Earth (Fine-Grained River Silt), a traditional material used in the making of Dunhuang mural ground layers.
Remove impurities, break the earth into smaller pieces, place it into containers, and add water. Observe how the earth gradually absorbs water and transforms in texture.
Participants will also sift through five-coloured sand, experiencing firsthand the natural materials shaped by centuries of wind and sand.
Ancient-Method Clay Tablet · Gritstone Layer Preparation
Pick up a sieve and follow traditional techniques to sift the sand and remove impurities. Apply glue to the wooden board, then carefully sprinkle the grit evenly across its surface. Smooth and level the layer by hand, learning how patience, precision, and craftsmanship come together to create the foundation of a mural.
Dunhuang Museum · Exploring the History of Dunhuang
Step into the Dunhuang Museum and explore the history and cultural heritage of the region.
Through replica caves, mural fragments, painted bricks, tomb guardian figures, and other collections, participants gain a broader understanding of Dunhuang’s history, art, archaeology, and Silk Road culture.
TREE ART Sketching Course · Exploring Dunhuang
Ancient-Method Clay Tablet · Building the Rough Mud Layer
The hands-on process begins.
Process wheat straw and prepare hemp fibres before combining them with the soaked Chengban Earth. Participants then apply and shape the mud layer over the completed gritstone foundation.
From raw earth to a carefully prepared mural surface, experience the traditional craftsmanship step by step.
DAY 3
Mogao Caves · An Unrivalled Artistic Treasure
Enter one of the world’s greatest artistic treasures—the Mogao Caves.
Here, architecture, sculpture, and mural painting come together in a remarkable three-dimensional artistic tradition. Across centuries of history, generations of artists left behind an extraordinary visual legacy.
Step into the grottoes and encounter walls filled with stories, colours, figures, and timeless beauty. Observe the details of the murals and discover the artistic techniques and materials that have allowed them to endure for centuries.
Within One Cave Lies a World;
Upon One Wall, A Thousand Years Unfold.
Mogao Caves Exhibition Center · Exploring the Grottoes in Detail
A remarkable destination for art observation and sketching, the Mogao Caves Exhibition Center brings the world of Dunhuang to life through eight 1:1 replica grottoes, faithfully recreating the atmosphere and artistic details of the original caves.
With murals and painted sculptures reproduced in remarkable detail, participants can explore the visual language of Dunhuang art without leaving the exhibition center.
TREE ART Sketching Course · The Aesthetics of Mogao Caves Murals
Observe the composition, linework, colour palette, figures, and decorative patterns of Dunhuang murals.
Through guided sketching, translate your observations into your own artwork and discover the visual language of Mogao Cave art.
DAY 4
Yangguan Pass · Following the Footsteps of the Silk Road
Receiving Your Customs Pass
Step into the world of the ancient Silk Road.
From entering Yangguan Pass and receiving your exclusive Silk Road Customs Pass to completing the final departure ceremony, participants embark on an immersive journey inspired by the travellers, merchants, and caravans who once crossed these ancient routes.
Through stories of Zhang Qian, Xuanzang, and the legendary Silk Road, discover how goods, ideas, religions, and artistic traditions travelled between East and West, shaping cultures along the way.
Fine Mud Layer · Preparing the Mural Surface
The rough mud layer provides the structural foundation. The fine mud layer creates the smooth and refined surface needed for painting.
Sieve the Chengban Earth to remove impurities and prepare a fine mud mixture. Apply it carefully over the rough layer, building the surface gradually through repeated application, pressing, and polishing.
Discover how traditional craftsmen transformed raw earth into a smooth canvas for colour and artistic expression.
Wood-Bone Clay Sculpture · Wood as Bone, Clay as Flesh
Explore the traditional wood-bone clay sculpture technique rooted in Dunhuang’s rich sculptural heritage.
Using wood as the structural framework and clay as the modelling material, discover how a sculptural figure is gradually brought to life through layering, shaping, refining, and carving.
Step into the workshop and experience the process firsthand—from preparing the clay and building the initial structure to refining the details and bringing the final expression to life. Trace the remarkable transformation from raw earth to a human figure.
Encounter Dunhuang · Large-Scale Immersive Theatre
Experience the cultural heritage of Dunhuang through the lens of contemporary technology.
Through immersive projection, music, dance, and visual effects, legendary stories inspired by the Mogao Caves unfold in a spectacular multi-sensory experience.
Murals come to life as moving images, history transforms into performance, and ancient stories unfold before your eyes—offering a fresh and immersive perspective on the artistic and cultural heritage of Dunhuang.
DAY 5
White Powder Layer · Preparing the Surface for Colour
Discover the important layer that bridges the fine mud surface and mineral pigments.
After carefully polishing the fine mud layer, prepare a thin white coating using traditional materials such as kaolin or gypsum. Apply it evenly to create a smooth and refined surface ready to receive colour.
Once dry, the clay tablet becomes a luminous canvas for mineral pigments, allowing colours such as lapis lazuli blue and cinnabar red to reveal their distinctive brilliance.
Through this process, discover how the preparation of the surface plays an essential role in preserving the depth, clarity, and brilliance of Dunhuang’s colours.
Mingsha Mountain & Crescent Lake · The Romance of the Desert
Experience one of Dunhuang’s most iconic landscapes, where golden dunes meet a crescent-shaped oasis.
Ride across the desert on camelback, following the ancient routes once travelled by Silk Road caravans. Climb the sand dunes, explore the vast landscape, and experience the unique rhythm of life in the desert.
Amid the shifting sands and tranquil waters of Crescent Lake, discover the remarkable harmony between nature, culture, and the ancient Silk Road.
TREE ART Sketching Course · Desert Pavilions and Towers
Capture the distinctive relationship between architecture, desert, light, and landscape through guided outdoor sketching.
Observe the changing shapes of the dunes, the silhouettes of traditional desert structures, and the subtle interplay of light and shadow.
Transform your observations into an artistic composition, learning to express the vastness and atmosphere of the Dunhuang desert through line, form, and colour.
Desert Stargazing · An Exclusive Astronomy Session
As night falls, venture into the desert for a special astronomy experience.
Learn about the stars and constellations, observe the night sky through telescopes, and discover the extraordinary clarity of Dunhuang’s desert skies.
Far from the lights of the city, pause beneath the vast canopy of stars and experience the quiet beauty of the desert at night.
DAY 6
Little Artists · Dunhuang Mural Copying Course
Transform the classroom into a traditional Dunhuang painting studio.
Using the handcrafted clay tablets prepared during the previous days, participants begin the final stages of mural creation.
Mix mineral pigments with the appropriate medium, trace the lines, build up layers of colour, and gradually bring the artwork to life.
Traditional mural copying is not simply about reproducing an image. It is an opportunity to understand the relationship between material, technique, colour, and artistic expression.
Through their own hands, young artists experience the craftsmanship passed down through generations and discover how traditional techniques can be transformed into their own creative expression.
Art Closing Ceremony · Exclusive Art Exhibition
Celebrate the completion of the journey with a special Art Closing Ceremony and Exhibition.
Display your completed Dunhuang-inspired artwork, share your creative journey, and reflect on the knowledge and skills gained throughout the study tour.
From the first handful of earth to the final brushstroke, every artwork represents a personal connection with Dunhuang.
Gather with fellow participants, teachers, and new friends to celebrate the journey, the creativity, and the memories created along the way.
Study Tour Bazaar · Food, Drinks & Cultural Creations
Throughout the study tour, participants earn Study Tour Coins through classroom participation, teamwork, and knowledge challenges.
On the final day, the Study Tour Bazaar comes to life.
Use your hard-earned coins to exchange for local treats, drinks, mineral pigments, clay tablets, and Dunhuang-inspired cultural creations.
Through budgeting, independent choices, and playful exchanges, experience the lively atmosphere of a traditional market while discovering another side of Dunhuang’s everyday culture and creativity.
Desert Banquet · The Romance of the Desert
End the day with an unforgettable evening in the desert.
Enjoy local delicacies while watching the sunset over the dunes. Slide down the sand, gather with friends around the campfire, and take in the spectacular night sky.
As the stars emerge above the desert, celebrate the friendships, discoveries, and memories created throughout the journey.
A night beneath the stars.
A memory to carry home.
DAY 7
Dunhuang Seal House · A Haven of Stamps
Step into a world filled with the subtle fragrance of ink and the artistry of traditional Chinese seals.
At the Dunhuang Seal House, discover an extensive collection of stamps inspired by the artistic and cultural heritage of Dunhuang.
Each participant receives an exclusive souvenir stamp book and can collect stamps throughout the experience, creating a personal record of their journey through Dunhuang.
More than a souvenir, each stamp becomes a small reminder of the places visited, stories discovered, and memories created along the way.
Dunhuang Bookstore · The Mogao Caves on Paper
Visit the Dunhuang Bookstore, often described as one of China’s most beautiful bookstores and affectionately known as the “Mogao Caves on Paper.”
Browse beautifully curated books and art albums featuring Dunhuang murals, explore creative products inspired by Dunhuang culture, and gather inspiration from the artistic heritage encountered throughout the study tour.
Surrounded by books, images, and stories, revisit the colours, figures, landscapes, and craftsmanship discovered throughout the journey.
Before the journey comes to an end, take home not only souvenirs, but also a deeper appreciation of Dunhuang’s art, history, and cultural legacy.
My Journey as a Dunhuang Artist
DETAILED ITINERARY PREVIEW
DAY 1
20:00 Arrival
20:30–21:30 Opening Night Ceremony
DAY 2
09:00–12:00 Chengban Earth Collection & Mural Ground Preparation
15:00–16:30 Dunhuang Museum Exhibition Course
17:00–19:00 Rough Mud Layer Making
DAY 3
08:00–13:00 Mogao Caves · Digital Films & Grottoes
15:00–17:00 Mogao Caves Exhibition Center
DAY 4
08:00–12:00 Yangguan Pass · Pass-Exiting Ceremony
15:00–18:00 Wood-Bone Clay Sculpture Course
18:00–18:30 Fine Mud Layer Making
20:00–21:10 Encounter Dunhuang · Immersive Theatre
DAY 5
09:00–11:00 Mineral Pigment Grinding
11:00–11:30 White Powder Layer Making
15:00–18:00 Mingsha Mountain · Camel Riding & Sand Dune Challenge
19:00–22:00 Exclusive Stargazing Session
DAY 6
09:00–12:00 Dunhuang Mural Copying Course
15:00–18:00 Art Exhibition · Closing Ceremony & Bazaar
18:00–22:00 Desert Banquet
DAY 7
10:00–12:00 Dunhuang Seal House & Bookstore · Visit & Stamp Collecting
After Lunch Departure
It’s Time to Journey to Dunhuang
Seven days and six nights in Dunhuang: the Mogao Caves and their exhibition centre, the Dunhuang Museum, Yangguan Pass, Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Lake, and the working sessions that take a clay tablet from Gobi earth to a finished mural.
The dates and places are the ones shown with the departures on this page. Ask us about the route below and we will say whether it suits your child.