[Curator Tour] Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism, and the Silk Road

Join curator Louise Lui on an exclusive tour of Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism and the Silk Road exhibition. Discover the stories behind the objects on display and get an intimate look at how the exhibition was brought to life.

About the exhibition

For over a thousand years, the oasis city of Dunhuang was one of the great crossroads of the ancient world. Travellers, merchants, monks, and pilgrims passed through this gateway linking China, Central Asia, India, and beyond, bringing with them goods and ideas that transformed the city into one of the world's most important centres of Buddhist art.

Carved into the cliffs at the edge of the Gobi Desert between the 4th and 14th centuries, the Mogao Caves, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, preserve an extraordinary record of life in Dunhuang. Life-size reproductions of cave interiors alongside paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, and textiles, are presented in Southeast Asia for the first time, revealing the history of these sacred spaces and the exchanges that shaped the Silk Road.

About the curator

Louise Lui is curator (Chinese art) at the Asian Civilisations Museum. Her research interests include East Asian ceramics, textiles, and objects that arise from exchanges between different cultures and mediums. She curated Fukusa: Japanese Gift Covers from the Chris Hall Collection (2024) at the Peranakan Museum.

Please note that this is a paid tour. Before purchasing a ticket, please read the following:

A minimum of five people is needed to proceed with these tours.

Cancellations/refunds

Ticket sales are non-refundable. No-shows will be subject to ticket fees. Otherwise if you are unable to make it for the programme for any reason, you may arrange for another person to take your place. Please write to us via Peatix messages or email us at [email protected], if you have any queries.

Where is the meeting point and what time should I be there?

The meeting point is at the Asian Civilisation’s Museum lobby. Please arrive at least 10 minutes before the tour to register and get your admission sticker into the Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism and the Silk Road exhibition. Tours will begin promptly at 6.30pm and 8pm. Tour will last about 1 hour.

What’s covered in your ticket?

Admission sticker into Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism and the Silk Road exhibition and an approximately hour-long curator's tour. Should you wish to visit the exhibition earlier before the tour commences, please drop us a note via Peatix or email us at [email protected] at least 24 hours in advance so we can arrange it.

Further enquiries/questions

We’d be happy to answer them for you! Drop us a note via Peatix or email us at [email protected].