(photo by CGTN)

Art imitating life as the National Ballet of China is dedicating a new performance to the mystical Dunhuang Grottoes in China's northwestern Gansu province.

This dance drama centers on the first archaeologists and researchers who made protecting the caves' murals their lifelong mission. The main characters are a pair of young lovers fascinated by the Dunhuang art, who are willing to stay in the desert to protect the grottoes.

the starring actor/Xinhua Net Photo

Dunhuang, the starting point of the ancient Silk Road, was a major stop for merchants to trade and take a rest. This connected the city to the ups and downs of ancient China, the Middle East and parts of Europe over the centuries. The National Ballet of China has mixed ancient and modern ballet techniques to create a project that matches the glamorous and mysterious grottoes.

the starring actress /Xinhua Net Photo

The performance is entitled "The Light of Heart" and financed by the National Art Fund for 2017. It will premiere in September.