A new edition of the dance drama "Silk Road, Flower Rain" makes its debut in Dunhuang of Northwest China's Gansu province on Sept 16, 2016. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

The classical dance drama based on the mural arts from Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang tells a story about Shenbizhang, a painter, and his daughter Ying. They save a dying Persian businessman, Yunus, from the desert along the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907).

Since its first edition in 1979, the drama was staged in over 40 countries and regions, attracting more than 4 million viewers.

The drama will also be performed at the opening ceremony of the first Silk Road (Dunhuang) International Cultural Expo on Sept 20.