The special exhibition "Dynamic Shoal: Sporting Vitality in Dunhuang Murals" will open on December 28 in Dongguan and will run through May 20, 2026. Through a combination of images and text, the exhibition presents depictions from Dunhuang murals featuring weightlifting, wrestling, archery, pitch-pot, mountaineering, spring outings, as well as other forms of competitive sports, recreational activities, and health-preserving practices.
More than 20 types of sports activities depicted in Dunhuang murals had already become established forms of competition before the Song and Yuan dynasties. Documents unearthed in Dunhuang also record a wide range of children's activities from ancient times.
The exhibition will also feature dance figures from the Dunhuang Mogao Caves. Many of these postures, reminiscent of martial arts, daoyin exercises, and gymnastics, vividly demonstrate the integration of art and physical culture.
At the same time, the exhibition "Dunhuang: A Brilliant Gem on the Millennium Silk Road—Exhibition of Fine Cultural Relics" will open at the Shilong Museum in Dongguan, featuring 133 cultural relics.
Author: Liu Yue
Photo: Nanfang Plus
Editor: Huang Qini, James Campion, Shen He
