Grotto temples stand as historical witnesses to the mutual exchange between Chinese civilization and 
other civilizations. Among them, the vast number of small and medium-sized grotto temples have long faced 
systematic inadequacies in conservation, representing a vulnerable segment in China's cave temple conservation and utilization system. This study employs the small and medium-sized grottoes of the Dazu Rock Carvings as empirical cases and through a detailed interpretation of their multidimensional value system and an analysis of current challenges, it proposes five fundamental principles for their conservation and utilization. Furthermore, this study systematizes the innovative practices recently implemented by the Academy of Dazu Rock Carvings and it not only highlights that a systematic strategy effectively tackles core issues like structural vulnerability and management fragmentation, but also positively influences value interpretation and social function activation.