Step inside the Yungang Grottoes with immersive tech exhibition in Shanghai

History and art buffs in Shanghai can experience the charm of the Yungang Grottoes at the "Gazing Over The Clouds and Sea" exhibition, which opens at the Q-Can Art Museum on October 10.

The exhibition features both a standard display of cultural relics and restored artworks, with the primary highlight being the use of multimedia and the immersive 1:1 scale replica of Cave 12, referred to as the "Music Cave."

The grottoes in Datong city in Shanxi Province comprise a vast cave complex that was excavated during the Northern Wei Dynasty (386-534). With a history spanning 1,500 years, this site consists of 254 caves and niches of varying sizes, which together house over 59,000 statues. It represents the pinnacle of Chinese Buddhist art.

Cave 12, known as the "Music Cave," features inner walls intricately carved with musicians playing an array of Chinese and Western instruments, such as the pipa, bili, and guqin. The flying apsaras depicted in the cave are shown dancing in various poses, believed to represent the "earliest court symphony orchestra in China."

The technical team from the Yungang Academy utilized 3D laser scanning and close-range photogrammetry to create a millimeter-level 3D model, replicating the rock textures and sculptural details of the cave.

Based on the depictions of music and dance on the stone walls, curator Tian Qing choreographed a set of Yungang music and dance, which will be performed by real dancers within the replica of the cave on weekends and holidays during the exhibition period.

The western standing Buddha of Yungang was restored using 3D scanning and restoration techniques and is being presented in Shanghai for the first time.

The exhibition will showcase over a 100 cultural relics and contemporary artworks inspired by the Yungang Grottoes, along with tools used in the cave excavation.

A 30-minute laser projection show in the multimedia hall will take visitors back to the Northern Wei Dynasty and to the scene of the cave excavation.

The exhibition includes an experience featuring Northern Wei Dynasty-style makeup and costumes for traditional Chinese culture enthusiasts. Visitors can integrate into the cultural and historical scenes of the Northern Wei Dynasty through styling.

Exhibition info

Dates: October 10 - March 26, 2026

Tickets: 98 yuan (58 yuan for early birds)

Venue: Q-Can Art Museum 趣看美术馆

Address: 6/F Life Hub @ Bund Central, 939 Sichuan Rd N 四川北路939号滨港商业中心六楼