In Lanzhou, Gansu Province in northwest China, several traditional post offices have quietly been refitted as Dunhuang-themed venues that combine cultural tourism, photo spots and hands-on experiences. Residents have noticed the new interiors and have flocked in to see the redesigns.

Interiors draw heavily on Dunhuang imagery — pipa instruments, flying apsaras and motifs drawn from Mogao Cave murals and the legend of the Nine-Colored Deer — blending ancient iconography with contemporary art to create a strong cultural atmosphere. The post offices pair this look with Dunhuang-themed postcards, stamps and commemorative postmarks, turning postal counters into a fresh window onto local heritage that appeals to tourists, art lovers and philatelists.

Unlike conventional branches, these theme post offices are run around a specific cultural concept. They issue related philatelic items and creative products, offer specialty postal services and stage interactive displays, all intended to give visitors an immersive cultural-tourism experience rather than just a place to send mail.