Yungang Grottoes are a cradle of Buddhist art, playing host to more than 51,000 sculptures.(Photo: agencies)

BEIJING-- The China Foundation for Cultural Heritage Conservation has launched a project to create digital versions of ancient grotto temples along the Silk Road.

The project will choose grotto temples from different eras and regions and make digital replicas of them for display, said Li Xiaojie from the foundation.

Li added that some grotto temples will be virtually repaired.

The project is long-term, aiming to create a model for the digital preservation of cave temples far into the future and using modern technology to preserve precious cultural heritage. The first temples to be included in the project are the Yungang Grottoes, Longmen Grottoes, and Maijishan Grottoes, according to the foundation.