ISLAMABAD (TDI): China is one of the leading countries in the world in combating desertification. In the area of climate, China has made significant scientific advancements in combating desertification while achieving substantial economic benefits at the same time.
Where time meets sand, history endures in the most unexpected of places.In the vast, arid expanse of the Gobi Desert, the Mogao Caves stand as sentinels of China’s past, their survival etched into the very landscape.
This is home to some of the most exquisite Buddhist murals in the world, which were created over a thousand years ago.
Yet now, Mogao Caves are engaged in a struggle for survival against the desert that has been both their sanctuary and their adversary for centuries.
The dry climate has helped preserve these precious artworks, but the wind and sand pose a constant threat to their safe conservation.
Wind erosion, wind-blown sand,and sand-laden winds cause abrasion to the murals. In severe cases, they cause the pigment layers to peel off. These conditions are unpredictable. Maintaining a stable environment is essential for the preservation of cultural relics.
Restoring the Natural Wind Patterns to Their Original State
Since the 1940s, the people of Dunhuang have been developing a system for sand removal, stabilization, and barriers to protect Mogao Caves.
Under Zhang and his colleagues’ efforts, the system has become more comprehensive and refined. At the foot of Mingsha Mountain, it is the far western edge of the comprehensive wind and sand protection system for the Mogao Caves.
This five-tiered protection system runs from west to east, blocking sand from the Mingsha Mountains. It uses grass grids and sand-binding plants to cut off the sand source, while large-scale sand compaction prevents further shifts.
The “A”-shaped nylon net sand barriers, combined with the protective forest belt in front of the caves, form a comprehensive defense system that not only reduces the threat of wind-blown sand and dust to the safe preservation of the precious cultural relics in the Mogao Grottoes, but also creates a favorable visiting environment for tourists.
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Almost 12 kilometers away, Crescent Lake,also known as Yueya Spring, a crescent-shaped oasis, has thrived for over a thousand years in the harsh Gobi Desert.It is now a well-known and beloved tourist destination.
But shifting sand dunes, driven by relentless winds, now threaten to bury it. Researchers have mapped the dunes’ movement and found their pyramid shape, formed by winds from three directions, maintains a delicate balance. Disrupting this balance could bring the dunes closer to the spring.
“From the area surrounding Yueya Spring to its outer edges, and even to the perimeter of the scenic area, ventilation improvements have been implementedl. ”Liu Benli said, the Researcher from Chinese Academy of Sciences of Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources.
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Qu Jianjun, researcher from Chinese Academy of Sciences of Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, also mentions that,the area was enclosed by walls that blocked the wind previously, causing significant sand accumulation.
Now, they have removed some of the obstructing structures, including tall trees, on the windward side to restore the natural airflow.True protection, in essence, is about restoring the natural wind patterns to their original state.
Some create oases, others protect them—preserving traditions that span centuries and securing hope for the future.
In the vast desert, protecting Yueya Spring is not just about saving an oasis; it’s about preserving life and the legacy we leave for generations to come.
