Reporter — According to the Yungang Research Institute, the Yungang Grottoes welcomed more than 5.28 million visitors throughout 2025, marking an 18.87% year-over-year increase and setting a new all-time record.
The Yungang Grottoes has adhered to "protection first" as the core principle of cultural tourism development. The scenic spot has addressed the challenge of large tourist volumes through refined management, implementing a mechanism combining "reservation-based diversion, flexible extended hours, and technology-driven early warning" to maximize visitor satisfaction. Real-time monitoring and dynamic warning systems have been deployed in core cave areas, with sensors precisely controlling crowd density.
In heritage protection, the Yungang Research Institute completed research projects including "Key Technologies for Monitoring and Treating Internal Condensation Water in Stone Cultural Relics at Yungang Grottoes" and "Scientific Archaeological Research on Pingcheng, the Northern Wei Silk Road, and Ethnic Integration." For the first time, hyperspectral technology was applied to Caves 7 and 8, achieving full-dimensional recording of geometric forms and material composition, marking the digital protection era's entry into the "spectral age." In research, the Yungang Research Institute hosted multiple academic seminars including "2025 Grotto Temple Protection and Inheritance," filed numerous national and provincial research projects throughout the year, and published works including "Integration and Innovation: Research on the Pingcheng Era of the Northern Wei Dynasty" and "Complete Classification Collection of Yungang Grottoes Art." In exhibition, 2025 saw the launch of "Wisdom: Zheng Qinyan Exhibition," "Ten Thousand Years: City and Frontier Defense in the Ming Dynasty," and "Yungang • Echoes of a Millennium — The 5th National Wall Painting Exhibition," further activating the intrinsic value of cultural heritage. The world's first Yungang digital asset transformation multimedia exhibition "Exploring Yungang" debuted, presenting Yungang aesthetics to the world through dynamic activation. In brand influence, the Yungang Grottoes ranked third on the December 2025 Maidot MBI China 5A Scenic Spot Top 100 list. This honor has not only enhanced Yungang Grottoes' brand value and competitiveness in the national cultural tourism market but also created favorable opportunities for the site to expand cooperation and attract professional talent.
Additionally, special art exhibitions including "Stone Rhythm and Buddhist Sounds" and "Clouds Gazing at Each Other" have gained widespread attention. The "Integration • Yungang Classic Art into Universities" exhibition project has been approved, with exhibition agreements signed with six universities including the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Tsinghua University.
