https://english.news.cn/20261019/4093de2510874efd8546c15a9b750b64/c.html

At the Liangzhu Ruins in east China’s Zhejiang Province, a UNESCO World Heritage Site inscribed in 2019, digital reconstructions of ancient palaces are opening a window to the past, bringing the civilization to life while safeguarding its fragile remains.

Digital technology allows to transform research findings into a stunning visual experience, showing how the Liangzhu people lived and worked 5,000 years ago.

Preserving earthen ruins in humid climates has long been a global challenge. At Liangzhu, moss and mold grow quickly, and even visitors’ footsteps can threaten fragile heritage sites. The difficulty is compounded by the site’s vast scale. Some 316 sites are scattered across a 162-square-kilometer protection zone interwoven with local development. More than 90 percent of the area remains open, making foot patrols alone insufficient.

Liangzhu’s solution is to let algorithms stand watch over the ground. Across the zone, facilities, including 1,006 surveillance cameras and hundreds of ground sensors tracking soil moisture around the clock, form an integrated, intelligent monitoring network. The network issues automatic warnings when abnormalities are detected, cutting response times from three days to 30 minutes.

Researchers have also built a digital twin, a virtual model of the physical site, on a smart management platform. It can simulate extreme weather such as typhoons and downpours, allowing researchers to identify weak points and develop response plans tailored to the areas most at risk.

At the Liangzhu Museum, visitors can put on augmented reality (AR) glasses and watch a virtual jade cong appear to float out of its display case. The tubular object, with a square exterior and circular interior, can be rotated digitally in midair, revealing intricate carvings from every angle without touching the original. With a tap on the arm of a pair of AI glasses, visitors can activate an intelligent guide. The device identifies exhibits in the wearer’s field of view and provides explanations. Visitors can also ask follow-up questions about whatever catches their interest.

Behind the AI guide lies a carefully built knowledge base. The museum has organized its records and archaeological reports into a structured database to support the system.

If AR brings individual artifacts closer, virtual reality (VR) at the ruins offers visitors a chance to explore the ancient city as a whole. Launched in 2025, the VR experience at Liangzhu takes visitors into a digitally reconstructed city. Wearing headsets, they can watch farmers tend rice fields, artisans carve jade and communities work together to manage floods.

At the ongoing fourth Liangzhu Forum held in Hangzhou, Heena Waleed, minister of Arts, Culture and Heritage of the Maldives, said using digital means to preserve the memory of civilization is an important guarantee that cultural heritage will be left to future generations.