ACM's new exhibition brings Mogao Caves and over 1,000 years of Silk Road art to Singapore

The Asian Civilisations Museum's Sacred Caves: Dunhuang, Buddhism, and the Silk Road exhibition in Singapore showcases over 1,000 years of Silk Road art and culture. Four life-size reproductions of China's Mogao Caves, an original soundscape, interactive digital experiences and a stamp trail are on display at ACM's Level 2 Foyer and Special Exhibitions Gallery from September 25, 2026 to March 7, 2027.

Dunhuang, located in northwestern China, was a crucial Silk Road crossroads connecting China with Central Asia, India, the Middle East and Europe. The exhibition features cave reproductions, paintings, sculptures, manuscripts, textiles, and devotional objects, with three of the four caves either restricted or closed at the original site.

The largest reproduction, Cave 158, occupies the Level 2 Foyer and contains the largest reclining Buddha at Mogao. Visitors can explore other caves' reproductions, such as Cave 249 depicting Buddhist and Chinese mythology, Cave 45 featuring a Tang dynasty sculptural ensemble, and Cave 3 known for its fluid brushwork. The exhibition also highlights Dunhuang's trade, religious life, and communities that created and sustained it, through objects such as a Tang dynasty travel pass, a coin from Sassanid Iran, and rulers' depictions.

Sound and interactive elements, including original pieces by composer Sulwyn Lok and a digital trail, enhance the experience. A stamp rally extends beyond ACM to the Bank of China and The Fullerton Hotel, with six stamps requiring a blind-box apsara figurine. An inflatable apsara installation serves as a photo spot on ACM Green.