An embossed sand painting was finished last week at Mingsha Mount, a tourist destination in Dunhuang of Northwest China's Gansu province, posing a sharp contrast to the surrounding desert.

The painting, featuring local Dunhuang characteristics and cultural elements, was created by 10 artists in 10 days. As sun rose and set on Aug 16, the painting gradually faded away within a day after removing the giant canvas over the painting.

This work, requiring days and nights of efforts, was accomplished by a young team of artists led by Lyu Jie, an expert in solid color sand painting. He hoped the unique piece would remind people that art can easily fade away without proper protection, and said that the great culture of Dunhuang should be carefully preserved.

Dunhuang, an ancient Chinese city on the Silk Road, boasts some of the world's most treasured grotto art.

"It is very meaningful to be part of this campaign to raise awareness. Hopefully, watching the disappearance of the painted sand can provoke a desire to cherish what is precious, specifically Dunhuang culture, and translate it into action," Lyv said.

Huang Rui in Beijing contributed to this story.