When Dunhuang is mentioned, the most lasting impression is of its historical inheritance, principally the must-visit painted grottos of the Mogao Caves.

In addition to preserving this treasured heritage, the city in Gansu province is now seeking to become more contemporary and cater to different needs, by setting up multifunctional cultural venues and offering experiences with a modern touch.

The Dunhuang Book Center is one such venue. Like other bookstores, it is stacked with books and creative cultural items, but it is also unmistakably of Dunhuang, with its exterior and interior design, titles and merchandise inspired by the grottoes and the murals.

It opened in April 2022, and two years later, earned a spot on the "most beautiful bookstores of the year" list at the Third National Conference on Reading in Kunming, Yunnan province.

Liu Xiaxia, general manager of the Dunhuang Gongmei Cultural Creativity Co Ltd, was its chief designer.

"We had hoped the center to receive attention on social media platforms. And in the three years since, it has steadily grown in popularity," Liu says.

Covering around 800 square meters, it includes some 25,000 books categorized under sections such as Dunhuang history, murals, and calligraphy.