The Editorial Department of Dunhuang Academy Participated in Hosting the "Academic Symposium on Fine Detection and Prevention of Water Hazards in Grotto Temples", Which Was Successfully Held at Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, Ningxia From July 17th to 19th, 2023, under the guidance of the Bureau of Cultural Relics of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the "Academic Symposium on Fine Detection and Prevention of Water Hazards in Grotto Temples" co - hosted by Fudan University, the Editorial Department of Research on the Conservation of Cave Temples and Earthen Sites, and the Key Scientific Research Base of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage for the Conservation of Masonry Cultural Relics (Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage) was successfully held at Xumishan Grottoes in Guyuan, Ningxia. Nearly 80 people participated in the conference, including those from the Bureau of Cultural Relics of the Ningxia Autonomous Region, Yuanzhou District, major grotto temples across the country, institutions of higher learning, scientific research institutes, as well as the editorial board members and editorial staff of Research on the Conservation of Cave Temples and Earthen Sites. The conference was organized by the Bureau of Culture, Tourism, Radio and Television of Yuanzhou District, the Xumishan Grottoes Cultural Relics Administration, and the Research Center for National Land and Cultural Resources of Fudan University. The supporting units were the Luo Zhewen Fund Management Committee of the China Cultural Heritage Foundation and the Beijing Engineering Corporation Limited of PowerChina. The participating experts delivered special academic reports on issues such as the fine management of water hazards in grotto temples and the use of high - tech to detect and prevent water hazards, jointly explored in - depth problems, and made beneficial explorations and contributions to the treatment of water hazards in grotto temples across the country.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Professor Wang Jinhua from Fudan University. Fan Yong, a member of the Standing Committee of the Yuanzhou District Party Committee and head of the Publicity Department, delivered a welcome speech. Cao Guoxiang, the vice - district head of Yuanzhou District, introduced the large - scale protection and renovation work of Xumishan Grottoes and extended a warm welcome and sincere gratitude to the arrival of all experts and leaders.

After the opening ceremony, a special academic report session was held. The academic report session was divided into three parts, presided over respectively by Chief Engineer Lan Lizhi from Liaoning Non - ferrous Geological Exploration Institute, Researcher Yan Shaojun from Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage, and Professor Chen Wenwu from Lanzhou University.

The first academic report session was presided over by Chief Engineer Lan Lizhi of Liaoning Non - ferrous Geological Exploration Institute. Professor Chen Wenwu of Lanzhou University gave a report titled "Research on the Seepage Mechanism and Water Hazard Prevention and Control Technology of Typical Grottoes in Gansu", sharing with everyone the characteristics of water hazards in typical grottoes in Gansu and the latest research on prevention and control technologies. Professor Huang Jizhong of Shanghai University's report "A Review of the Research on Water Hazard Prevention and Control Technologies in Grotto Temples in China" introduced in detail the sources and treatment of water hazards in grotto temples, and concluded that the root cause of improper water control is unclear sources and unclear mechanisms. In the report "The Mechanism of Water - Rock Interaction and the Water Hazard Model of Leshan Giant Buddha Sandstone" by Researcher Yan Shaojun of Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage, the view was put forward that the research on the mechanism of water - rock interaction of Leshan Giant Buddha should be carried out and the treatment of the water hazard of the Giant Buddha should be carried out with caution. Engineer Dou Yan of the Beijing Engineering Corporation Limited of PowerChina's report "Research on the Investigation and Prevention and Control Technology of Water Hazards in Xumishan Grottoes" introduced in detail the progress of the investigation of water hazards in Xumishan Grottoes and the latest research on prevention and control technologies, as well as the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of the technologies.

The second academic report session was presided over by Researcher Yan Shaojun of Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Cultural Heritage. Director Ma Chaolong of the Longmen Grottoes Research Institute's report "Water Hazards and Treatment in the Daily Maintenance of Longmen Grottoes" introduced in detail the water hazards and treatment of Longmen Grottoes and put forward the main measures for the treatment of Longmen Grottoes. In the report "Tracking and Tracing the Source - The Cross - border Practice of Water Hazard Detection Technology in Grottoes" by President Wang Fengrui of the Cultural Heritage Protection Research Institute of China Railway Academy, it was believed that the accurate exploration of seepage channels and the sources of seepage, which are important prerequisites for fissure seepage, is necessary. Professor Feng Xuan of Jilin University's report "Research on High - Precision Geophysical Ground - Well - Cliff Differential Detection Technology for Fracture Seepage Networks in Grotto Rock Masses" proposed a variety of new technologies and new achievements related to geophysics for the treatment of water hazards in grotto temples. Associate Researcher Fu Guijun of the Institute of Rock and Soil Mechanics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, in the report "Research on Countermeasures for the Prevention and Control of Water Hazards in Grotto Rock Masses - Taking Dazu Rock Carvings as an Example", shared the latest achievements in the prevention and control of water hazards in Dazu Rock Carvings. 

The third academic report session was presided over by Professor Chen Wenwu of Lanzhou University. Three experts and scholars, including Director Chen Huili of Dazu Rock Carvings, Senior Engineer Li Bin of Liaoning Non - ferrous Geological Exploration Institute, and Senior Engineer Ma Runjie of PowerChina, put forward the latest research results and practical experience in grotto temples regarding the prevention and control practice of water hazards in Dazu Rock Carvings, the investigation and treatment test of water hazards in the northern section of the cliff - side statues in Beishan, Dazu Rock Carvings, and the experimental research on the application of radial horizontal hole technology in the treatment of water hazards in grotto temples.

After the academic report session, it entered the special discussion and Q&A session. Experts such as Lan Lizhi, Huang Jizhong, Chen Wenwu, Yan Shaojun, and Yan Hongbin conducted special Q&A and interactive discussions on hot issues such as "Whether grotto temples should be protected or not" and "To what extent should the water hazards in grotto temples be treated" raised by the representatives at the meeting.

After the academic exchange meeting, Ding Detian, the deputy director of the Editorial Department of Dunhuang Academy, thanked the participants, organizers, and colleagues on behalf of the organizers! He reported and introduced to the participating experts and six editorial board members the establishment and operation of the journal Research on the Conservation of Cave Temples and Earthen Sites, as well as the current journal - running concept and columns of the new journal, and at the same time promoted and solicited contributions from the participating experts.

After the academic symposium, Professor Wang Jinhua of Fudan University summarized this symposium. He believed that this symposium closely focused on the new technologies and new methods for the fine detection of water hazards in grotto temples. It was a special conference on the research of water hazard prevention and control technologies in grotto temples in China and the research of experience and demonstration cases of water hazard prevention and control in grotto temples in China. It carried out very meaningful special discussions and exchanges, and the conference was a complete success.

(Text/Picture: LIU Yang/DING Detian)