Extreme weather is bringing bouts of heavy rainfall and moisture to deserts of Gansu province that have preserved the caves and their artwork since 4th century
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(Reuters) - Ancient Buddhist murals in northwestern China are under "direct threat" as a result of unprecedented levels of rainfall brought about by c.
Extreme rainfall in Dunhuang and Zhangye in China's Gansu province has put UNESCO-listed world heritage sites at risk, with cave monasteries dating back to the 4th century already damaged, environmental group Greenpeace said. Rainwater leaks and rising humidity have damaged ancient cave paintings, including those in the famous Mogao grottoes, it said, and some caves have even collapsed. "Spikes in humidity, flash floods, and cave-ins are already happening," said Li Zhao, a senior researcher in Greenpeace East Asia's Beijing office.