In the heart of the Gobi Desert, Dunhuang – a once-thriving Silk Road hub – is reclaiming its role as a bridge between civilizations. As mayors from 23 countries and regions prepare for the Global Mayors Dialogue this week, the city’s windswept landscapes and millennia-old art offer unexpected lessons in cross-cultural connection.
CGTN’s Yang Xinmeng recently wandered through the Mogao Grottoes, where 45,000 square meters of Buddhist murals reveal Persian textile patterns, Indian deities, and Central Asian architectural motifs. “These caves aren’t just relics,” noted local historian Wang Lei. “They’re a 1,600-year-old conversation in pigment and plaster.”
At the singing sand dunes of Mingsha Mountain, where camels replace cargo trains, Yang discovered another form of exchange: travelers from Germany, Japan, and Brazil comparing stories under the same crescent moon that guided ancient merchants. “Dunhuang teaches us that shared human experiences, not just trade deals, build lasting ties,” said urban policy analyst Meera Kapoor, who will attend the mayors’ summit.
The Dialogue’s agenda focuses on sustainable urban development, but participants emphasize symbolic value. “Where better to discuss our common future,” asked Jakarta Mayor Arifin, “than where East and West first learned to listen?”
