Called the “Daughter of Dunhuang”, Chinese archaeologist Fan Jinshi, 85, was awarded by UNESCO for her outstanding contribution to the protection of the Dunhuang Mogao Caves.
Fan Jinshi’s story with the caves started 60 years ago. In 1963, Fan, then a 25-year-old Peking University graduate, was assigned to work at the Mogao Caves, a place she had been longing to explore. Though her father was concerned about her health and tried to get her reassigned to a different place, Fan boarded a train and headed to the remote west.
“Seeing Dunhuang for the first time was absolutely breathtaking. But only when truly staying here did I realize inside the caves is a world of exceptional beauty while outside is a land of blowing sand and endless yellow earth,” Fan said. Back in those days, the Mogao Caves were almost cut off from the world. Fan and her coworkers had to live in mud houses and drink salty water. They stayed inside the caves to do research, trying whatever they could to protect and restore them. In 2011, after 40 years of hard work, a report on 10 Mogao Caves compiled (汇编) by Fan’s team was finally published, which was China’s first academic report on cave archaeology.
As time passed, Fan found a serious problem. The increasing number of tourists visiting Dunhuang might harm the caves, causing murals (壁画) to blur (变模糊) and colors to fade. In 1980s, Fan got to know computer technology by accident. She realized this might be the chance to preserve the Mogao Caves forever. After over 30 years of exploration, the Dunhuang Academy built a digital database, allowing Dunhuang’s art to live forever and to step out of the caves to meet the world.
“In my entire life, I’ve only done one thing: safeguard and promote the world cultural heritage — the Mogao Caves,” she told People’s Daily. “My heart belongs to Dunhuang.”
【小题1】What can we learn about Fan from the article?| A．She is a woman with determination. |
| B．Her health was affected by her stressful work. |
| C．She began her work at the Mogao Caves at 23. |
| D．Her father supported her job from the very beginning. |
| A．It was an amazing place. |
| B．The environment was terrible. |
| C．She was almost cut off from the world. |
| D．The work conditions were better than expected. |
| A．Her interest in computer technology. |
| B．Her desire to promote Chinese culture. |
| C．The need to document the restoration work. |
| D．The increasing threat to the physical caves. |
| A．It has earned her recognition. | B．It has been her lifelong calling. |
| C．It has promoted cultural exchange. | D．It has inspired many young people. |
