Buddhas in Danger

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Byline: Melinda Liu

And how holograms can help.

among china's greatest art treasures are the Buddhist caves near Dunhuang, an oasis on the fabled Silk Road that once linked China and Europe. Their ancient frescoes, sculptures, and other relics date as far back as A.D. 430 and have survived wars, environmental damage, antiquities hunters, and the chaotic Cultural Revolution. But their biggest threat today is tourism.

The UNESCO World Heritage site--which includes more than 700 caves, 2,400 clay sculptures, and 150,000 square feet of frescoes--has an optimal capacity of 3,000 people per day, but up to 8,000 visited the caves daily during holidays this year. …